The trial of a property firm accused of mis-selling new homes has resumed after a five-month gap.
Dandara Limited allegedly gave false information to Ronald and Sally Buxton and Mandy and Peter McLeod before they bought apartments in the developers’ luxury Stoneywood Estate in Aberdeen.
The couples were sold their properties at The Walled Garden in May and April 2013.
The company is also accused of falsely advertising room sizes at the development between May 1 and 31 2013 and denies all the allegations.
The trial opened at the city’s sheriff court in September with Mr Buxton giving evidence.
Under cross-examination from defence counsel Murdo Macleod QC yesterday, Mr Buxton said he had asked Dandara for access to the apartment to take measurements for furniture, but was told this was against the firm’s health and safety regulations.
He also claimed he had requested a floor plan of the apartment with dimensions.
Mr Buxton said that when he and his wife were given the keys for the apartment, they were “shocked” and told the firm’s representative that it was much smaller than they expected.
He told Mr Macleod he measured the flat several times and concluded the dimensions given in a brochure were incorrect.
Mr Macleod suggested he had misinterpreted the measurements in the magazine, and disputed his claim he had complained to Dandara immediately.
Mr Buxton’s wife Sally, who is Chinese, also gave evidence with the aid of a mandarin interpreter.
She echoed her husband’s claim that they had been misled by the brochure.
It also emerged yesterday that the Buxtons were suing the housebuilder for more than £200,000, but she said this had not influenced her evidence to the court.
The trial, before Sheriff Morag McLaughlin, continues.
