Is the quality of new homes affected by the credit crunch?

Inspector Home, the UK's leading independent new home inspection service, is concerned that buyers of new homes are facing a serious reduction in quality and service as Developers force pay cuts of 15% on to many contractors.

"We understand that developers have to cut costs” says Stephen Nancarrow MD Inspector Home “but that should not affect the quality of the homes they are producing. We are very concerned that by forcing pay cuts on to the trades, workers will in turn cut the quality of their work and it is the buyer who will ultimately suffer the consequences."

Inspector Home contributed significantly to the OFT House Building Study due to be published next month and provided all the statistical data on the levels of new home defects on which the report was based. “We are confident that the OFT will finally offer some protection for new home buyers” says Stephen “and we look forward to the release of the Study. There are several Developers producing high quality homes and we recognise them with our own award scheme, however it is now time for national standards to be set and enforced.”

Inspector Home launched a petition in 2004, lobbying the Government to introduce regulation and protection for buyers of new homes. It wants to see the establishment of a formal regulatory body, legal consumer protection, government-set standards and league tables of property developers.

New Homes are exempt from the Sale of Goods Act ¡V there is more consumer protection covering the purchase of a can of baked beans than a new home.

Of the thousands of new homes inspected by Inspector Home last year, only 1 had zero defects: the worst had 405. This means that many people who should be enjoying living in their 'dream' home, are spending time fighting battles to have these faults rectified and are forced to move in to sub-standard homes with no legal right to compensation.

Information about the Inspector Home award scheme can be found at InspectorHome.net.