A new code to protect buyers of new build homes against poor quality work is to launch this week.
The Consumer Code for New Homes (CCNH) has been established to ensure best practice in the marketing, selling and purchasing of new homes. It aims to provide a genuine commitment to improving standards of construction and raising customer service standards in the new build homes market.
Crucially, it provides consumers with a voice when things don’t go according to plan when they buy a new home from a developer.
The Consumer Code for New Homes is being formally launched following approval by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute’s (CTSI) Consumer Codes Approval Scheme.
CCNH is the only CTSI-approved Code in the new build sector which is backed by an industry collective of warranty bodies.
The issue of quality and the overall standard of construction has come under the spotlight in the wake of the Grenfell disaster and the Edinburgh schools debacle.
The issue of poor quality new build homes has also been in the headlines with housebuilder Bovis Homes slowing its construction programme and setting aside £7m to cover remedial work and compensation after being dogged by complaints about new homes being sold unfinished and with electrical and plumbing faults.
Paula Higgins, chief executive of the Homeowners Alliance, said: “As we have more houses than ever before being built and the government encouraging people to buy more homes, we are seeing more and more issues with quality.
“At Homeowners Alliance we have been calling for greater protection for consumers buying a new build property for some time. Consumers find it difficult to know where to go when they have problems and their developers have turned a blind eye.
“I’m pleased to see protection for new build buyers being brought under the spotlight by the CCHN and I hope they will continue to promote a united approach across the industry to encourage the housebuilding industry raise its game.”
Sarah Langley, managing director of CCNH, said: “We are thrilled to receive approval from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. This external accreditation recognises the additional consumer protection measures within the Consumer Code for New Homes framework and our genuine desire to raise standards in the new build sector.”
Speakers at the Westminster launch will include Maria Miller MP, as well as CIOB Past President Paul Nash.
Image: Thomas Gowanlock/Dreamstime
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So, this is obviously finally an acceptance that all the usual Building Regs. & warranty & insurance bodies like NHBC are basically useless in protecting the home buyer! Something that anyone in the industry has known for decades, but thankfully has now finally come to a head through recent serious failures of quality. Builders profits & bonuses put before the buyer. I just hope that this new body will have teeth & support the buyer, but don’t hold your breath?
Bring back the clerk of works.