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| New watchdog will have power to ban rogue builders | New watchdog will have power to ban rogue builders |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A new body will be set up with powers to ban rogue developers from building new houses, and award compensation to those stuck in "shoddy" new-builds. | A new body will be set up with powers to ban rogue developers from building new houses, and award compensation to those stuck in "shoddy" new-builds. |
| The new homes ombudsman, which was promised in the Queen's Speech last year, will be expected to take "swift action" to resolve problems. | The new homes ombudsman, which was promised in the Queen's Speech last year, will be expected to take "swift action" to resolve problems. |
| It will be tasked with resolving issues like faulty wiring, encountered by buyers of new homes. | It will be tasked with resolving issues like faulty wiring, encountered by buyers of new homes. |
| Homebuilders will be forced to sign up to the ombudsman register. | Homebuilders will be forced to sign up to the ombudsman register. |
| The Home Builders Federation's (HBF) own satisfaction surveys showed a rise in the percentage of customers reporting snags - from 93% in 2015 to 99% in 2018. | |
| However, the HBF's surveys also found 87% of people who had bought a new home said they would recommend their builder to a friend. | |
| Details of the plans to appoint an ombudsman were outlined by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick in the House of Commons on Monday. | Details of the plans to appoint an ombudsman were outlined by Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick in the House of Commons on Monday. |
| "It's unacceptable that new houses have been built in many cases to a shoddy standard, and some housebuilders have displayed poor service when housebuyers find they have problems with their new home," he said. | "It's unacceptable that new houses have been built in many cases to a shoddy standard, and some housebuilders have displayed poor service when housebuyers find they have problems with their new home," he said. |
| He added that builders would have to "put quality first if they wish to continue to be part of the government's Help to Buy scheme". | He added that builders would have to "put quality first if they wish to continue to be part of the government's Help to Buy scheme". |
| "The ombudsman will stop rogue developers getting away with shoddy building work, and raise the game of housebuilders across the sector," Mr Jenrick said. | "The ombudsman will stop rogue developers getting away with shoddy building work, and raise the game of housebuilders across the sector," Mr Jenrick said. |
| "Homebuyers will be able to access help when they need it, so disputes can be resolved faster and people can get the compensation they deserve." | "Homebuyers will be able to access help when they need it, so disputes can be resolved faster and people can get the compensation they deserve." |
| At present, homebuyers who buy new-builds have no independent route to challenge developers over bad service or poor workmanship. | At present, homebuyers who buy new-builds have no independent route to challenge developers over bad service or poor workmanship. |
| No minimum standards | No minimum standards |
| The government said the new service will be free to consumers and independent of industry. However, it has not said how the body will be funded. | The government said the new service will be free to consumers and independent of industry. However, it has not said how the body will be funded. |
| It has also not given details about when it will be introduced. | It has also not given details about when it will be introduced. |
| Labour said Conservative ministers were "on a go-slow" on issues around housing standards. | Labour said Conservative ministers were "on a go-slow" on issues around housing standards. |
| "It's shameful that last year 99% of buyers reported problems with their new-build home," said shadow housing secretary John Healey. "No other market gets away with such a sky-high defect rate." | "It's shameful that last year 99% of buyers reported problems with their new-build home," said shadow housing secretary John Healey. "No other market gets away with such a sky-high defect rate." |
| "These proposals for an ombudsman were announced almost 18 months ago, but there's still no date for the legislation that will be needed to make it work for all home-buyers," he said. | "These proposals for an ombudsman were announced almost 18 months ago, but there's still no date for the legislation that will be needed to make it work for all home-buyers," he said. |
| In December, an independent report found that Persimmon, the UK's second-biggest housing firm, did not have an agreed minimum standard for all the homes it builds. | In December, an independent report found that Persimmon, the UK's second-biggest housing firm, did not have an agreed minimum standard for all the homes it builds. |
| The review found that some houses did not have fire-stopping cavity barriers, or they had been wrongly installed. | The review found that some houses did not have fire-stopping cavity barriers, or they had been wrongly installed. |
| A spokesman for the Home Builders Federation welcomed plans for a new ombudsman. | A spokesman for the Home Builders Federation welcomed plans for a new ombudsman. |
| He said improving the quality of new homes was the "number one" focus for the industry. | He said improving the quality of new homes was the "number one" focus for the industry. |
| "There's still a long way to go but the new homes ombudsman is part of how we deliver those improvements," he said. | "There's still a long way to go but the new homes ombudsman is part of how we deliver those improvements," he said. |