A couple who used their life-savings to put down a deposit on their first house say the new-build home has turned out to be a "disaster".

Alex and Dorina Marcu snapped up the £350,000 property as they relocated to Herne Bay with the view to starting a family.

But they say just days after moving into the brand-new three-bed they found a number of defects - including a leak in the ceiling, low water pressure and peeling flooring.

It took them seven years to save up £40,000 for the deposit - and now they worry they have made a huge mistake.

But the developers say they have addressed the "vast majority" of issues raised by the couple since they picked up the keys in August.

The house is one of 50 homes in the newly-completed Bay Square development just off Herne Bay High Street.

Mrs Marcu told KentOnline: “We had been so excited to move here together.

“We were looking to start a family and live here long-term, but this is a disaster.

“I feel so angry with the developer. We’ve been telling them for months about the issues with the house but they’re just messing us around."

The 30-year-old, who works from home as a professional photographer, added: “Now I feel I have some depression, and I’m not sleeping well because the situation is so stressful."

Mr Marcu, who works as an estate manager in London, says some of the windows and doors have been installed crooked, allowing the wind to blow straight through the house.

The 33-year-old said: “I don’t remember the last time I had a smile on my face at home. I feel like I’ve been cheated.

“Herne Bay itself is a beautiful, amazing place to live but the quality of the house is extremely poor."

Mr Marcu says poor-quality laminate is peeling off the floor in several places around the two-storey property, the landings are squeaky and the water supply is also a problem.

“The pressure is so low it’s almost impossible to take a shower, and if someone flushes the toilet it stops completely," he added.

“When the wind blows, water drips from the ceiling in the kitchen and the floor below has now bulged because of water damage.

“So now we just leave a bucket there - but this really isn’t what you expect from a brand new, £350,000 property.

"I just hope my story can open the eyes of other people who are thinking of buying a house here."

The husband and wife purchased the house directly from the developer, Guildmore Limited.

The couple say even though the property is still in warranty, the developers have failed to fix the issues they have raised. But Guildmore disputes this.

A spokesperson for the firm said: "As a builder of new homes we take comments such as these incredibly seriously.

"We are well aware of our obligation as a developer to quickly respond to any unforeseen issues with the homes we build and have an in-house maintenance team who deal with any problems.

"We have addressed the vast majority of issues raised by Mr Marcu and are currently liaising with the manufacturers in order to rectify the outstanding issues.

"Guildmore have a long and proud reputation as a builder of quality homes and aim to maintain that reputation."

• What should you do if you've got problems with your new-build? Read our explainer here.

The Bay Square development has also come in for criticism over the "communal garden" at the heart of the estate.

New homeowners expecting a lush green space say they feel “short-changed” by the “ugly urban desert” they have been left with.