@homebase_help Homebase poor quality kitchen

[thedigger]

Hi all,

We bought a Homebase Kitchen in 2011, which comes with a ten year warranty. We had it fitted professionally while having other building work done, and it quickly began to deteriorate.

 

The kitchen was a shaker style with (what appears to be) doors wrapped in vinyl and a plate rack with painted components. The paint on the plate rack was the first to cause problems - flaking off in large chunks until the whole wooden section was exposed. We also noticed on a few of the doors had started to split across the top edging causing the vinyl to crack, and on an open-fronted unit the paint had started to chip off in large quantities.

 

After much toing and froing (including escalating the complaint to Homebase's director department), we had an assessor visit to check our complaint and they agreed to replace the faulty components (this was then a two year old kitchen). Several items were out of stock and it took approximately two months for the units to be delivered. However, we eventually got the parts and had them replaced, and closed the complaint (with a minor compensation from Homebase).

 

18 months later, we're now seeing some of the same components fail - particularly the plate rack. I realise I can start a new complaint, have the same component replaced again as I am within my ten year warranty, but at what point can I say this kitchen (or at least several components of it), are not fit for purpose and take the complaint higher? I shouldn't have to replace parts on a bi-annual basis, and I am well aware that as soon as my ten year warranty is over, Homebase are entitled to wash their hands of my problem leaving me with a tatty kitchen I'll have to replace immediately.

 

Thanks for any advice

Edited June 14, 2015 by thedigger

[Eversir]

Sorry this didn't get an answer sooner.

 

How have your complaints been submitted to the company so far?

 

Have they acknowledged in writing the defect(s) and the resolution that was offered to you? What was the compensation and did you accept it?

 

The ten year warranty might imply that the goods are of good quality and durable. You would not buy a kitchen with a 10 year warranty and expect to be replacing faulty components on a regular basis within those 10 years.

 

However, the whole "not fit for purpose" bit in the Sales of Goods Act can only be claimed upto 6 years from purchase. After 6 months, the burden of proof falls on you and not the retailer. So you don't have too long left to be claiming under that if you are thinking about giving them another chance to put it right.

 

Did you agree a contract or terms of any kind when purchasing your kitchen? Claiming a general breach of contract is another option for you.