First-time buyers' nightmare after getting keys to dream home and finding 'uninhabitable' mouldy kitchen

A young couple claim to be 'out of pocket' after finding their 'dream' new-build home is riddled with issues.

First-time buyers Sallyann Smith, 23, and fiancé Gareth Hawkins, 26, say that they were due to move into their three-bed home, which they bought for £385,000, last July.

But after getting the keys, the couple say they were distraught to find mould in the kitchen which they described as 'unihabitable' - especially as Sallyann was pregnant at the time.

The couple allege they are now at least £5,000 worse off after various issues with the building.

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The home in Essex was built by property developer Crest Nicholson, reports The Mirror.

However a day before, and after paying the developer around £30,500, the couple claim they were told the property had no services – including no heating.

The hold-ups, which Sallyann says were followed by several more weeks of delays, meant they missed out on the stamp duty holiday, adding £3,000 to their fees.

The couple say they have now 'lost hope in their fight for justice' for the property that was supposed to be their dream home.

“The issues on their end meant we were going to have to find thousands of pounds extra to cover the tax charges,” Sallyann told The Mirror.

“We’re first-time buyers on a really tight budget, we really needed the support of the stamp duty holiday.

“We asked if they would pay it for us or take if off the house price – but they refused.” she said.

“We’d already paid the deposit by that point so we felt backed into a corner."

Eventually, the couple picked up the keys on July 29, but three days later, they claim they discovered the kitchen had severe