Putting consumers at the heart of house building

The Government is looking to increase the levels of housebuilding and MPs are also pointing out the need to make sure the future quality of new homes doesn’t suffer as production accelerates.

An all-party parliamentary group (APPG) put together for Excellence in the Built Environment has recently led an ​Inquiry into the quality of new build housing in the UK. They debated all the issues affecting quality.

The APPG came to a number of conclusions, which included the following measures:

• DCLG should initiate steps to set up a New Homes Ombudsman
• Buyers should have the right to inspect properties before completion
• A minimum standard should be set for compliance inspections
• Housebuilders should make the annual customer satisfaction survey more independent to boost customer confidence.

Each of these different recommendations can cause an impact for developers which include:

• The need to work with building control and warranty providers over the provision of feedback and inspections
• Explaining to home purchasers the contribution of building control and warranty
• Ensuring the public and other property owners are signposted to this information, or handing it over with the keys/completion pack – ensuring the purchaser is made aware of the service providers and plot reference.

LABC has been responding positively to this for local authority building control.  Since the APPG, LABC has consulted with governments, industry, and local authorities.  The outcome is planned to improve reporting and feedback and increased training.

 LABC is also taking steps to improve coordination between LABC Warranty and LABC Building Control surveying and inspection teams.

Existing schemes like LABC House Types are going to be extended beyond the very large developers to ensure their uptake by SME developers.  In addition, LABC is working with key supply chain partners like Saint Gobain and their distributor channel, Jewson to enable SME and PLC developers to improve the design, specification, and delivery to the site of the best packages of compliant and cost effective construction elements.

An extensive set of road shows are being run covering the building control, warranty, design, and construction initiatives coordinated by LABC. 

To find out more, you can read the full APPG report or join the conversation in the comments section below or on Twitter @labcuk @LABC_Warranty

​Find out about LABC schemes here, or for information on LABC House Types, contact Martin Taylor at martin.taylor@labc.co.uk.