{"id":6029884,"date":"2020-02-27T09:19:06","date_gmt":"2020-02-27T09:19:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.buyassociation.co.uk\/?p=6029884"},"modified":"2020-02-27T09:19:06","modified_gmt":"2020-02-27T09:19:06","slug":"new-build-housing-standards-are-about-to-get-even-higher-in-the-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.buyassociationgroup.com\/en-au\/news\/new-build-housing-standards-are-about-to-get-even-higher-in-the-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"New-build housing standards are about to get even higher in the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thinking of investing in a new-build? There are already a multitude of benefits for buyers, but a new announcement from the government could add an extra incentive.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This week, the government has confirmed that it will deliver a New Homes Ombudsman for buyers of new-build<\/a> homes, in what it has called a clampdown on “shoddy housebuilders”.<\/p>\n

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has released a statement saying that the new independent Ombudsman will be implemented as soon as possible. It will be given powers to step in and help buyers of new-build properties who have raised disputes with builders over the quality of the building work. All housebuilders<\/a> will be required to join the New Homes Ombudsman once it is active, and rogue builders will have to compensate buyers for “shoddy work”.<\/p>\n

Where developers want to make new properties are available under Help to Buy<\/a>, they will have to show that they\u00a0 “put quality first” in order to be part of this scheme.<\/p>\n

Support from the new watchdog, including advice and subsequent action taken, will be free for the consumer. This should ensure issues are dealt with swiftly and with less complications than is currently experienced by some new-build buyers. Upon purchase of a new-build property, once the Ombudsman is operational, buyers should be made aware of its existence with a clear course of action to take if they encounter problems with the quality<\/a> of their property.<\/p>\n

Raising industry standards<\/h4>\n

Commenting on the proposals, Robert Jenrick said: “It\u2019s completely unacceptable that so many people struggle to get answers when they find issues with their dream new home.<\/p>\n

“That\u2019s why the Ombudsman will stop rogue developers getting away with shoddy building work and raise the game of housebuilders across the sector.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He added: “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.”<\/p>\n

The new watchdog will have the power to ban rogue builders and developers, helping to raise standards<\/a> across the industry. It will also be able to enforce the awarding of compensation to the buyer, direct developers to improve their service, and make recommendations to resolve disputes as well as request apologies and explanations from developers.<\/p>\n

Improving the quality of new homes has become a major issue across the industry over recent years, with safety standards<\/a> brought into the spotlight through the Grenfell disaster, for example, as well as a rise in the number of complaints from new-build homeowners. Housebuilding levels in the UK are currently increasing<\/a>, meaning more people than ever are set to live in new-builds; but it is important that the focus remains on quality as well as quantity, hence the government’s latest steps.<\/p>\n

The benefits of buying a new-build<\/h4>\n

Overall, standards of housebuilding in the UK are high, and there are many benefits to investing in a new-build property over an existing one. This applies to both property investors focusing on rental properties<\/a>, and homeowners looking to get onto or step up the housing ladder<\/a>. Some of the benefits include:<\/p>\n