Avant Homes: Cairneyhill residents complain about Pitdinnie Grange

As reported previously by the Press, homeowners at Pitdinnie Grange are angry over the state Avant Homes has left the development in.

Past articles have highlighted that a playpark described by one villager as a "wasteland" remains unfinished, walkways have nails protruding from them and the substation located at the park is an "eyesore".

These are just some of the many issues that have been submitted as a formal complaint to Avant Homes.

Sending the formal complaint by letter, a group of Pitdinnie Grange residents said: "Buying a new home should be an exciting time for people, especially when the housebuilders promise a ‘Good Better Different’ home.

"Sadly, for us, this has not been the case and Avant has not only fallen short on their promise above but they have also breached the Consumer Code for Home Builders, more specifically: To Be Treated Fairly, To Know What Levels of Service You Can Expect.

"The residents on this estate have been left absolutely devastated by the poor service Avant has provided.

"For many of us we have tried for several years to have these issues resolved but have become tired and very frustrated, getting nowhere. This is clear breach of the Consumer Code for Home Builders where buyers are expected to be treated fairly.

"Interestingly, only a handful of the residents received a vague letter explaining that the issues would be resolved following a shocking article exposing the disgraceful state of the playpark in the Dunfermline Press.

"As you can imagine, the recent letter offered very little assurance that all our issues on the estate would be resolved given your previous history of extremely poor customer service and no action being taken.

"Please find this formal complaint letter along with supporting documentation including an extensive report and photographic evidence of all our outstanding issues demonstrating the terrible state Avant have left.

"Our expectation is that all the issues captured be fully resolved prior to being handed over to the appointed factor company to ensure the residents do not incur additional costs due to negligence by Avant.

"You are also expected to respond in relation to these highlighted issues and provide timely, specific timescales around when they will be resolved.

"Our report and photographic evidence have been sent to Fife Council Planning, Cllr Mino Manekshaw, Cairneyhill Community Council and the Dunfermline Press.

"If a detailed response is not provided in how these issues will be rectified, we will ask to be referred to an independent dispute resolution service and collective legal action will be sought by the residents as a group via an appointed solicitor.

"We look forward to hearing from you."

In response, an Avant Homes Scotland spokesperson told the Press: “We are continuing to carry out works at our development in Cairneyhill in accordance with the approved landscaping details outlined in the planning permission granted by Fife Council.

“We would like to reassure homeowners at the development that these works will be completed as soon as possible.”

Fife Council's Alastair Hamilton, service manager, confirmed to the Press that the council had "received an enforcement enquiry regarding the Pitdinnie Grange development by Avant Homes, which is being progressed".