New Build ... Any Recourse?

Wow that is terrible, now you have a shared driveway as opposed to what is shown on the brochure. I would go back to the builder to see if there is any financial compensation for this. It is too late for you and them to do anything about the layout now.

Something is off about that brochure image though.. I counted 5 townhouse units, but there are only 4 front entrances? I guess the other corner unit have side entrance instead.

My guess is they squeezed in another unit in the middle to make it a 6 units townhouse?

You most likely had a lawyer approve your purchase documents. I would contact them and see what they can do. Might cost you $200 to $400 but be worth it.

I agree either another unit, old documentation, or maybe city approval changed what you thought.

Best of luck. Hopefully your purchase agreement included a picture and that it must be like that but I doubt that.

Look at the site plan. Not all townhouse blocks have the same configuration. The photos may only show the most typical configuration.

So basically your unit became the second one from the right? Did they just not build yours yet? Do you have a pic from far away showing all 5 units?

You have a solid case to back out and I highly recommend you do so...do not move into a house with a shared driveway.

That's terrible.

Those photos are artist renders and are strictly marketing material. You have to look at the actual plans. I'd be pissed, but the marketing material is always fluff. I'm sure the builder has some language in there to protect themselves but talk to your lawyer.

back to back Townhouse

Jon Lai wrote: ↑ Look at the site plan. Not all townhouse blocks have the same configuration. The photos may only show the most typical configuration.

Exactly right. There is a big difference between artist rendering and advertising brochure and the actual architectural and building drawings. Most of the brochures will even say something along the line of "actual may differ" or" artists rendering " etc.

Pete_Coach wrote: ↑ Exactly right. There is a big difference between artist rendering and advertising brochure and the actual architectural and building drawings. Most of the brochures will even say something along the line of "actual may differ" or" artists rendering " etc.

It depends where OP is. In Québec even if you say that the picture may differ in the ad, it is illegal (article 231.1 LPC). Obviously, there might be multiple models and only 1 (another one) is shown, which would make it legal.

Personally, no financial compensation would make it worth sharing a driveway.

The promotional material that you posted is generally just an artist's rendering of what the units may look like when built. It is not an indication of which specific unit will be where. Due to design and build limits though, some builders do only sell certain units next to others and this would be shown on the site plan. Did you review the site plan? Did you inquire as to which units would be included in your block as this would have also given you insight into how the block would look?

Not much recourse, I'm afraid.

FYI - another common builder play is to develop promotional material showing street scapes of single family homes with huge spaces between them and complimentary elevations. The reality is when built the street will have homes spaced closed together and different elevations that in no way resemble the marketing material.

This is like computer game screenshots used for marketing purposes, they have nothing to do with reality. That picture was for the shiny marketing brochure that is all. If you signed off on the actual plans, I am afraid you are SOL.

JEDI Force wrote: ↑ It depends where OP is. In Québec even if you say that the picture may differ in the ad, it is illegal (article 231.1 LPC). Obviously, there might be multiple models and only 1 (another one) is shown, which would make it legal.

Personally, no financial compensation would make it worth sharing a driveway.

Have no idea what article 231.1 LPC is.
So, it is misrepresentation?
Is it legal? Or not?

Pete_Coach wrote: ↑ Have no idea what article 231.1 LPC is.
So, it is misrepresentation?
Is it legal? Or not?

Loi de Protection du Consommateur (Consumer Protection Laws), he is saying the law is more strict in QC when it comes to marketing but there are still ways to get around it legally. As always, due diligence and buyer beware. This one is obvious to see on the plans as well.

admiralackbar wrote: ↑ Loi de Protection du Consommateur (Consumer Protection Laws), he is saying the law is more strict in QC when it comes to marketing but there are still ways to get around it legally. As always, due diligence and buyer beware. This one is obvious to see on the plans as well.

Absolutely there is a way around legality in marketing....no matter where you are LOL

vkizzle wrote: ↑ You have a solid case to back out and I highly recommend you do so...do not move into a house with a shared driveway.

I don't think so, as argument (and valid one) is that OP purchased the end unit and has no interest in what his neighbor/adjacent unit is like.

Though likely prices have gone up since OP purchased and builder maybe glad OP wants to back out subject to fees

Pete_Coach wrote: ↑ Exactly right. There is a big difference between artist rendering and advertising brochure and the actual architectural and building drawings. Most of the brochures will even say something along the line of "actual may differ" or" artists rendering " etc.

What he said. if you look at the other end unit, that configuration has a shared driveway. Im pretty sure the builder will have an out with that.
With the market being pretty hot now, the builder can say tough and just sell it now for more $$$.

But you do have 2 valid issues based on what you purchased. im interested to hear the outcome on this.......

StatsGuy wrote: ↑ I don't think so, as argument (and valid one) is that OP purchased the end unit and has no interest in what his neighbor/adjacent unit is like.

Though likely prices have gone up since OP purchased and builder maybe glad OP wants to back out subject to fees

OP would have been required to sign off on the actual floor plan and land survey.
No builder, at least the one I've purchased three new builds from, goes off a brochure.

projectman44 wrote: ↑ What he said. if you look at the other end unit, that configuration has a shared driveway. Im pretty sure the builder will have an out with that.
With the market being pretty hot now, the builder can say tough and just sell it now for more $$$.

But you do have 2 valid issues based on what you purchased. im interested to hear the outcome on this.......

True, but that one doesn't have a door in the front