HBF: Consumer protection for new homes

Responding to calls from the National Consumer Council for new home buyers to be given statutory protection, Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation Stewart Baseley says: “The NCC’s claim that new homes buyers have no more protection than those buying a new kettle is simply wrong.

“New home buyers enjoy a ten-year warranty, which ensures high standards of quality, remedy for any problems covered by the warranty and formal dispute resolution procedures. This is not the case for people purchasing second-hand homes. In addition, all home buyers have the benefit of legal representation.

“HBF is committed to the development of an evolving, long-term and positive customer satisfaction strategy. The first stage has been to establish an extensive annual customer satisfaction survey for new housing and to promote a HBF customer service code of conduct and a set of model contract terms developed in discussions with the OFT.”