Chichester resident claims she was not given agreed discount after buying £500,000 showhome

A Chichester resident has claimed she was not given the promised discount after purchasing a £500,000 showhome.
Hilary Shaw said she was guaranteed 45,000 off the market price of her home in 2018 but she is still waiting nearly a yearafter paying the full priceHilary Shaw said she was guaranteed 45,000 off the market price of her home in 2018 but she is still waiting nearly a yearafter paying the full price
Hilary Shaw said she was guaranteed 45,000 off the market price of her home in 2018 but she is still waiting nearly a yearafter paying the full price

Hilary Shaw, of Heron Close, said she, in 2018, was guaranteed £45,000 off the market price for the house in the Shopwhyke Lakes development.

However, nearly a year after paying the full price, Ms Shaw is still waiting for the discount but CALA Homes has claimed it has already been actioned.

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A spokesperson for the housing provider said: "CALA has a very clear and robust sales process whereby information on the agreed price of a property is provided to purchasers prior to the conclusion of the contract of sale.

"Ms Shaw received the discount agreed on her property and went through the legal process of buying her home with an independent solicitor."

The Observer has seen a letter sent to Ms Shaw stating that a zero discount had been paid.

She said: "I requested a copy of the contract and, on receipt, immediately noticed that the contract states that ‘no discount’ had been applied to the list price of my property as I had been repeatedly led to believe.

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"It was then that I contacted CALA Homes and queried the list price and asked why there was no mention of the, agreed, £45,000 discount in the terms of my contract."

Ms Shaw said it was 'inconceivable' that the agreed discount was omitted from reservation statement unless 'none was given'.

However, the CALA spokesperson reiterated: "The price of the property, which was stated on the sales contract and paid by Ms Shaw, included the discount agreed with her.”

Ms Shaw also revealed that the property had defects when first purchased with the work only just finishing nine months later.

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She said that it was 'only thanks to the emergency gas services, SGN' that the 'full extent and danger' of a gas leak was identified.

The CALA spokesperson added: "Some remedial works were required to Ms Shaw’s property after she moved in and these have been duly completed.

"We strive to deliver excellent quality for our customers and apologise again to Ms Shaw for the inconvenience these works may have caused.”

Ms Shaw said she has raised her complaints with MP Gillian Keegan.

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A spokesman for the Chichester MP said they could not comment on specific cases but said they do look into issues raised by their constituents.

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