No Quality Threshold For Help To Buy Funding

The government has decided not to force housebuilders to meet a specific quality threshold in order to access funding under the Help to Buy scheme. Publishing details of the terms under which the scheme will run between 2021 and when it closes in 2023, the government said the equity loan product, which has been instrumental in supporting the housebuilding industry, would be restricted to first-time buyers and subject to regional price caps. In addition, the government has laid out a series of further requirements that  builders will have to fulfil, such as signing up to the New Homes Ombudsman scheme. Read more on Housing Today.

https://www.housingtoday.co.uk/no-quality-threshold-for-help-to-buy-funding/5104509.article

New Ombudsman To Protect Homebuyers From ‘Rogue’ Developers

Homebuyers who are faced with shoddy building work in their new homes will be protected by a new, independent Ombudsman, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has confirmed. According to reports, the New Homes Ombudsman will step in to help homebuyers with a range of issues – and will have statutory powers to award compensation, ban rogue developers from building, and order developers to fix poor building work. Where people are in dispute with developers, the new Ombudsman will work to resolve any issues – ending the injustice of people facing potentially long waits and costly court cases. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/new-ombudsman-to-protect-homebuyers-from-rogue-developers/

Help to Buy Scheme – Parliamentary Written Answer

Mr Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the investigation into Persimmon new build properties, which found thousands of homes did not comply with building regulations and many of which were bought under the Help to Buy scheme, what plans he has to ensure that properties sold by other developers under that scheme conform to (a) building regulations and (b) other requirements.

Esther McVey: House builders are responsible for ensuring they build high quality homes which are fit for purpose. Persimmon’s independent review has identified serious failings and they will want to take immediate action to address the concerns raised. We will also create a New Homes Ombudsman to ensure homebuyers have a means of redress.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2019-12-20/266

Consultation on a New Homes Ombudsman

The Government has committed to legislating so that developers of market tenure homes must belong to a New Homes Ombudsman, and is currently consulting on the details of how such an Ombudsman would work. This proposal is a response to the perceived failure of industry-led schemes to protect the interests of homebuyers and would apply to new home purchased directly from developers. It is not currently intended to cover existing homes, new affordable homes or those purchased through agents. It is relevant to housing associations developing market homes for cross-subsidy, however. Read more on the NHF website.

https://www.housing.org.uk/latest-updates/consultation-on-a-new-homes-ombudsman/

Government Announces New Housing Measures

The government has announced:

·         a New Homes Ombudsman to support homebuyers facing problems with their newly built home

·         plans to help provide the homes the country needs through planning reform

·         plans to create a lasting legacy from the 2022 Commonwealth Games

·         measures to improve the safety of high-rise buildings

Measures to champion the rights of homebuyers and help ensure that when they buy a new home they get the quality of build they rightly expect. The New Homes Ombudsman will protect the interests of homebuyers and hold developers to account when things go wrong. Read more on the MHCLG website.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-new-housing-measures

New Homes Ombudsman Announced

Housing Secretary, James Brokenshire, has announced a New Homes Ombudsman. Speaking at the Conservative Party Conference, he said there was a “need to address quality issues in new homes”. He added: “This new watchdog will champion home buyers, protect their interests and hold developers to account. “And give confidence that when you get the keys to a new home you get the quality build you expect and the finish you’ve paid for.” Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/new-homes-ombudsman-announced/

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

Calls For New Home Building Quality To Be Improved In UK

Members of Parliament in the UK and construction experts are calling on the Government to set up a New Homes Ombudsman to mediate in disputes between home buyers and house builders. This is one of 10 recommendations setting out measures to improve the quality of workmanship in new homes and provide consumers with easier and cheaper forms of redress, to get problems fixed. According to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Excellence in the Built Environment (APPGEBE) house builders should be upping their game and putting consumers at the heart of their business model and the Government should use its influence to promote quality at every opportunity. Read more on the Property Wire website.