New Homes Quality Board

[edit] Introduction

In 2018, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Excellence in the Built Environment published proposals for a New Homes Ombudsman, which the CIOB broadly welcomed.

In February 2021, the New Homes Quality Board (NHQB) was announced. Natalie Elphicke MP OBE was the first official chair of the Board, after having served as the interim chair in 2020.

[edit] Goals for NHQB

The NHQB is an “independent body that will champion quality new homes and better consumer outcomes for buyers”. NHQB board members include representatives from consumer bodies, housebuilders, warranty providers, the finance sector and independents – with a constitution that ensures no one body is dominant.

Early actions for the NHQB include “consultation on - and introduction of - a comprehensive new industry code of practice that will place considerably more responsibility on developers to deliver quality homes and better consumer outcomes on all.”

The ombudsman service established by the NHQB will be free to consumers, with the arrangements to be paid for by the house building industry. It will also be applicable UK-wide.

[edit] CIOB reactions

Minister for Rough Sleeping and Housing Eddie Hughes MP, who is also a member of the CIOB, said, “It’s crucial developers show more responsibility for the quality of their work while also acknowledging when things go wrong – this helps give vital confidence to buyers, especially at a time of general uncertainty."

Caroline Gumble, Chief Executive of the CIOB added, “I want to reiterate that quality remains one of the biggest issues facing the construction industry, and this ombudsman will have a significant role as a mechanism for driving improvements in the quality of new homes."

This article originally appeared on the CIOB website under the headline, 'CIOB reacts to the launch of the New Homes Quality Board'. It was published on 10 February 2021.

--CIOB

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki

• All Party Parliamentary Group for Excellence in the Built Environment.
• BSRIA response to New Homes Ombudsman.
• Building better homes faster.
• CIOB articles.
• New Homes Ombudsman.
• Ombudsman.

[edit] External resources

• New Homes Quality Board.