MPs Call For House-Builders’ Ombudsman

A cross-party group of MPs and peers is recommending the creation of a New Homes Ombudsman to help provide redress for disgruntled home buyers. A report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Excellence in the Built Environment calls on the government to make it compulsory for all house-builders to belong to an independent ombudsman scheme. The report, Better redress for homebuyers, says that a New Homes Ombudsman should be independent and free to consumers, providing a quick resolution to disputes.  The report also recommends that government, warranty providers, builders and consumer group’s work together to draw up a code of practice that would be used by the New Homes Ombudsman to adjudicate on disputes. Read more on the Construction Index website.

https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/mps-call-for-house-builders-ombudsman

Affordable Homes Programme: How The First £1.28bn Is Being Shared Out

Who is getting what from the government’s £1.28bn pot for its shared ownership and affordable homes programme, 2016 to 2021? The Construction Index has a table showing who has been successful in the opening bidding round for the scheme in April 2016. The money has been committed to support the construction of 46,534 affordable homes across 1,920 schemes in England. Sanctuary Housing Association is top of the list with nearly £90m, to support it building 2,265 grant-funded homes. Nottingham City Council has been awarded £140,000 to build 10 homes.