I have been promoting the idea of a New Homes Ombudsman on my "Unhappy New Home Buyers" Facebook group for sometime. Now one of our more proactive members has set up a petition.
Please sign the petition today.
www.change.org/p/rt-hon-david-cameron-mp-commission-a-new-homes-ombudsman?We need an
Ombudsman for UK new homebuyers.The Consumer Code for Home Builders doesn't cover snagging and defects and limits "inconvenience" compensation payments to £250. The Warranty providers do not offer compensation at all. There is more protection for consumers buying an electric kettle from Currys than a new home from the likes of Persimmon!
The house builders and their interest groups will not change until they are forced to by a totally independent Ombudsman. Only an Ombudsman can force through change such as:
A mandatory 5% retention of the purchase price against which homebuyers could claim in the event they have defects that builders fail to resolve and/or suffer distress, inconvenience, nuisance, loss of use of the home etc.
A reversal of the burden of proof (which is, under normal legal principles, presently on the homeowner) in respect of building defects identified and reported in writing to builders within the first 6 weeks of occupation, which would put an end to many of the unscrupulous avoidance tactics commonly employed by builders.
A simplified dispute resolution scheme along the lines of the Tenancy Deposit Scheme that already exists for dealing with disputes over tenancy deposits. If combined with the reversal of the burden of proof idea, it would see many claims resolved in favour of the homeowner with minimal effort on their part and little or no need for legal representation.
For years, the major housebuilders have been allowed to build shoddy and substandard homes, without being challenged. This is our appeal for a government funded ombudsman, to offer help and advice for the consumer when things go wrong.
Most energy suppliers, financial institutions and education, among others, have an independent ombudsman to deal with complaints from consumers that are dissatisfied with the service that they have received - there is currently no organisation that does this within the housebuilding industry. Yes, there is the NHBC, but they have proven that they are not always impartial and these days, they carry less clout when it comes to having serious issues addressed. There are even laws that protect the buyer when making online purchases for a little as a few pence, yet nothing protects consumers when they buy a new build home, worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.
What is needed is an impartial organisation that will listen to consumer issues and take measures that will make the building companies offer the level of service that one would expect when buying a new home.
Please add your support to this petition, as many small voices make one big collective one.
Sign the petition now!
www.change.org/p/rt-hon-david-cameron-mp-commission-a-new-homes-ombudsman?
