BIRMINGHAM'S tallest residential block faced legal action today over claims that apartments aren't plush enough.
At least six people who signed contracts to buy flats in 400ft Beetham Tower say the standard of the completed accommodation does not match claims in sales literature.
Investors who paid deposits before building work was complete say the "luxury" flats are overvalued and projected rental values are well down.
They claim Beetham's promise of five-star standards have not been met. Completed apartments do not contain several features promised in the sales literature, and an independent housing inspection firm called in by an investor uncovered 40 separate faults in a single flat.
David Turley is considering legal action to recover the £27,700 deposit he paid for a two-bedroom flat which had he had intended to rent out.
He said he was told by sales agents to expect a monthly income of £1,200, but two-bedroom flats at Beetham Tower are currently available for £850 a month.
"When I had a look at my flat it wasn't what was first promised in their glitzy sales magazines," he said. "A lot of the fixtures and fittings aren't in keeping with what was advertised."
Mr Turley refused to complete the sale after inspecting the completed flat.
Beetham's chief executive, Stephen Beetham, said. "This development has the highest quality overall specification of any residential or hotel building in Birmingham.
"This development has been very successful."
He could not comment on the allegations raised by individual investors because the matter was the subject of potential legal action.
