Housing is a priority for this Government and we have committed to building at least one million new homes over the Parliament. As more homes are built, people should be confident that when they purchase a new build home, they get the quality of build they expect.
When you buy a new build home in Telford you should get what you rightly deserve – and that developers are held to account to ensure this happens.
No one expects to purchase a poor-quality home or receive poor customer service, and action should be taken against those that do not deliver. That’s why the Government has announced it will establish a New Homes Ombudsman to protect the rights of homebuyers and hold developers to account when things go wrong – including introducing legislation to require all developers of new build homes to belong to this Ombudsman.
The Government wants the New Homes Ombudsman to deliver wider benefits to consumers and drive up improvements in the new build homes sector. This includes building better homes of the highest standards and quality – as well as ensuring new homes are sustainable and fit for the future. The Government’s response to the consultation 'Redress for purchasers of new build homes and the New Homes Ombudsman' sets out how the New Homes Ombudsman will be delivered. The Government also consulted on whether a Code of Practice for developers should be underpinned in legislation. This is crucial for a new town like Telford, which is seeing a significant amount of development.
The consultation response sets out that:
• There will be a statutory requirement for developers to belong to a single New Homes Ombudsman scheme, procured by the Government for this purpose and we will set out who will be required to belong to it. The New Homes Ombudsman can be delivered by either a private or public sector scheme.
• The New Homes Ombudsman will be independent and free for consumers – paid for by developers.
• Powers will be provided in legislation to ensure requirements to belong to the New Homes Ombudsman are effectively enforced. This will include the power to provide compensation to homebuyers where it is deserved.
• Legislation will include a power for the Secretary of State to create or approve an existing Code of Practice. The Code of Practice will set guidance on what consumers can expect and what is expected of a developer, standardising the approach across the industry, and used by the New Homes Ombudsman to resolve disputes.
The Government has reassured Lucy that they will not wait for legislation before homebuyers are given better protection. The Local Government Secretary has explained that he will work at pace with consumer groups, industry and others for better protection for homebuyers prior to legislation – including working with them to set up an interim voluntary New Homes Ombudsman before the a permanent body can be established, so developers know what is expected of them.
