Our newbuild nightmare! Couple say moving into brand-new £419,000 home that is 'riddled with mould' is 'the biggest regret of our lives'

A couple whose new build home was 'riddled with mould' from the moment they moved in say purchasing the property is 'the biggest regret of our lives'. The couple moved into the property after it was completed in May last year but were forced to return to their previous home just three months later after finding mould behind the skirting boards in every room. Email frankie.elliott@mailonline.co.uk Leo and Fiona Maguire have been locked in a year long battle with Linden Homes to sort the damp and mould issues in their £419,000 home in Axminster, Devon The couple moved into the property after it was completed in May last year but were forced to return to their previous home just three months later after finding mould behind the skirting boards in every room The house has now been stripped back to a bare shelf with no kitchen or bathrooms and all the plumbing and electrics removed They say there are numerous examples of 'poor workmanship' throughout the home and the pair are yet to return to the building until all these issues are fixed Leo said: 'We are distraught, livid and frustrated about the whole thing and that's probably an understatement. The couple's furniture was ruined by the mould that was found in their new home The couple's trainers became covered in mould after they were left leaning against a skirting board The mould grew around the corners of their carpets, cracked their wallpaper and ruined their clothes The couple found that every room that was against a brick wall had been covered in mould Linden Homes eventually sent an independent surveyor to the property - who confirmed that the bricks were damp and the home would need to go through an intense drying procedure Leo claims the developer wouldn't 'acknowledge the issue', meaning the couple lived in the house without the skirting boards on for 3 weeks whilst they were 'exposed to mould'. Leo says the tarmac to their driveway will have to be relayed because it is puddling The couple also claim the screed on top of the concrete floor was cracked really badly because it was laid too wet They also say their are issues with mortar being left in the gaps between the cavity wall ties Leo and Fiona are still living in the previous house as they wait for the issues to be resolved in their new property The rest of the couple's belongings sits in storage in Exeter while their new house is currently stripped back to the bare walls Leo and Fiona are still in the previous house with 'enough stuff to go camping with' - having first been told they would be in there for no longer than a month.