Housebuilding ombudsman ‘needs to have teeth’

Senior politicians and campaigners are calling for hefty fines to be doled out to Britain’s biggest housebuilders if they are guilty of shoddy workmanship. Ministers are being urged to ensure a New Homes Ombudsman has adequate power to penalise developers guilty of poor building standards. The Queen’s Speech proposed a law requiring property developers to belong to a New Homes Ombudsman scheme, which could investigate complaints and award compensation. But campaigners say this body should also have the power to fine builders that put up unsafe and poor-quality housing. “This ombudsman needs to have teeth, such as the ability to impose substantial fines, which other ombudsmen generally don’t,” said Paula Higgins, chief executive of the Homeowners Alliance campaign group. “Money talks. Housebuilders will have more incentive to listen if it hurts their bottom line.”

The Daily Telegraph (13/01/20)