New-build housing - how regulation can improve the consumer journey
New-build housing - how regulation can improve the consumer journey
Launched by CIOB in December 2023, this report looks into the consumer protections in place to hold developers to account for quality failures in new-build housing.
This report, focusing on the quality, or perceived lack of quality of new-build housing, looks to raise awareness of the new regulatory frameworks that have been put in place to ensure that consumers are experiencing a high-quality service when purchasing and occupying a new home.
To assist consumers and help them understand what they can do to hold their housebuilder to account for any failings in quality, CIOB has produced a full report on the state of play in the new-build housing market. The report highlights its role in delivering new homes, looks at why there has been such a negative perception of the quality of new-build homes in recent years and uses data from a specially commissioned poll of UK adults to understand whether the general public trust housebuilders to deliver a quality product.
While it can be seen that the overall quality of new-build housing has increased in recent years it is still true that inconsistencies and issues can occur during construction. Therefore, it is paramount that consumers understand that they do have access to a variety of avenues to help identify any issues and get them fixed through their housebuilder, primarily through commissioning a snagging survey. Alongside this, there are new legal protections in place through the New Homes Quality Board (NHQB) and New Homes Ombudsman (NHO) which provide recourse and free advice and guidance to purchasers where quality issues occur during the purchasing process, occupation or post-sale. The reports breaks these down in an easy to understand manor and is supported by interviews with a snagging company, the NHQB and NHO.
To raise awareness of these mechanisms, CIOB has produced a short consumer advice guide that sits alongside the full report that breaks down the role of snagging surveys, the NHQB and NHO in a handy FAQs. The guide also provides some top tips for consumers to make sure they are getting the high quality product they deserve.
Click here to read the full report.
Click here to read short consumer advice guide with our top tips for those buying a new home.
This article originally appeared on the CIOB website in December 2023.
--CIOB
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
How much does it cost to build a house?
A brief run down of key considerations from a London based practice.
The need for a National construction careers campaign
Highlighted by CIOB to cut unemployment, reduce skills gap and deliver on housing and infrastructure ambitions.
AI-Driven automation; reducing time, enhancing compliance
Sustainability; not just compliance but rethinking design, material selection, and the supply chains to support them.
Climate Resilience and Adaptation In the Built Environment
New CIOB Technical Information Sheet by Colin Booth, Professor of Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure.
Turning Enquiries into Profitable Construction Projects
Founder of Develop Coaching and author of Building Your Future; Greg Wilkes shares his insights.
IHBC Signpost: Poetry from concrete
Scotland’s fascinating historic concrete and brutalist architecture with the Engine Shed.
Demonstrating that apprenticeships work for business, people and Scotland’s economy.
Scottish parents prioritise construction and apprenticeships
CIOB data released for Scottish Apprenticeship Week shows construction as top potential career path.
From a Green to a White Paper and the proposal of a General Safety Requirement for construction products.
Creativity, conservation and craft at Barley Studio. Book review.
The challenge as PFI agreements come to an end
How construction deals with inherited assets built under long-term contracts.
Skills plan for engineering and building services
Comprehensive industry report highlights persistent skills challenges across the sector.
Choosing the right design team for a D&B Contract
An architect explains the nature and needs of working within this common procurement route.
Statement from the Interim Chief Construction Advisor
Thouria Istephan; Architect and inquiry panel member outlines ongoing work, priorities and next steps.
The 2025 draft NPPF in brief with indicative responses
Local verses National and suitable verses sustainable: Consultation open for just over one week.
Increased vigilance on VAT Domestic Reverse Charge
HMRC bearing down with increasing force on construction consultant says.
Call for greater recognition of professional standards
Chartered bodies representing more than 1.5 million individuals have written to the UK Government.