Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation, Stewart Baseley, has criticised a call from the National Consumer Council (NCC) to give statutory protection to all new home buyers.

Mr Baseley stated: "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.


He added: "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."

(CL/SP)