Highland customers devastated after 'losing life savings' in collapse of Inverness-based housebuilder Ptarmigan Homes
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DEVASTATED customers say they have lost their life savings after the collapse of a Highland housebuilder saw their home ownership dream turn into a nightmare.
Ptarmigan Homes Ltd, which was based in Inverness and specialised in self-build housing, went into liquidation last week owing hundreds of thousands of pounds to its creditors and leaving an unknown number of customers high and dry in the middle of their plans for a new home.
And reaction has been heartbreaking, with numerous affected customers and traders taking to social media in response to the bitter blow.
Mag Campbell said: "Took our life savings and left us with a shell – not even wind and watertight."
Fortrose resident Zoe Armes said: "Glad we got out when we did but still lost money to them and reading this [story], seems they were over half a million in debt when they took us on as clients."
Another person affected was Lisa Williams, from Nairn, who said her and her husband were months into the design process, have lost their deposit and will now have to start all over from scratch.
"Sadly we were eight months in with our design stage with Ptarmigan Homes," she said.
"We are left with no drawings, no building warrant (that they claimed had been applied for, and we had paid on account for). We have lost our deposit and having to start all over again with a different architect and company."
Related: Inverness-based Highland housebuilder Ptarmigan Homes collapses into liquidation
Another customer, Sean Johnston, added: "Unfortunately we have been affected by this too but not as bad as some people. More than happy to keep taking people's money up until the bitter end."
Others, such as Mark Hart, voiced their relief that they'd had a "lucky escape", saying: "I called in to their office and asked if they could quote for an extension. Their reply: 'We’d only be interested in doing an extension of 100 square metres [or] more’. I asked her to repeat it as I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! Lucky escape for me."
Others were critical that the collapse of Ptarmigan Homes had left contractors and customers out of pocket in much the same way that the collapse of its predecessor Roy Homes – which shared a common management team – did back in early 2017.
Keith Bousfield asked: "Will an offer to take over from Ptarmigan Homes Developments Ltd appear like they did with Roy Homes in this situation before rebranding to Ptarmigan?"
It is unclear how much money was owing to creditors at the time of Ptarmigan Homes' collapse but its most recent financial statement, covering the fiscal year up to the end of March 2022, said the firm owed more than £800,000. This was up from a little over £550,000 owed to creditors in March 2021.
The now bust company had itself emerged from the remains of the defunct Roy Homes back in 2017 after the latter entered administration amid serious cash flow problems.
At the time Roy Homes, which was the largest supplier of bespoke homes across the north of Scotland, and its sister timber frame company, both ceased trading with the loss of 17 jobs.
But just hours after the administrators made an announcement that someone was being sought to buy their assets, a third company – Roy Homes Developments Ltd – stepped in with an offer.
This was subsequently successful, and Roy Homes Developments Ltd took on the assets before rebranding as Ptarmigan Homes.
However, Ptarmigan Homes has itself also now collapsed, with Companies House confirming the "appointment of a provisional liquidator in a winding-up by the court" in documents uploaded on May 5.
Requests for comment to Ptarmigan Homes were not answered at the time of going to press.
Visitors to its website are taken to a page stating "maintenance mode" and its social media pages on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are no longer accessible.
– Have you been affected by this news, please contact us via email at newsdesk@hnmedia.co.uk or call 01463 233 059.
