Asked by: Suella Braverman (Conservative - Fareham and Waterlooville)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to increase the powers of mortgage holders to hold developers to account in relation to inadequate construction.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government is aware of the challenges faced by mortgage holders and all other purchasers of new build properties with building safety and other defects.
Presently, most new home warranties are 10 years in length and are regularly a requirement placed on potential borrowers by mortgage providers.
The developer is often held accountable for the first two years of this period, with the rest of the period covered by the warranty provider.
Where issues arise with a new home, the government would urge new build homeowners to check the terms of any warranty their home may be under to see if the developer can be held accountable for rectifying any issues before referring back to the warranty provider. Where a homeowner is dissatisfied with the service given, warranty providers should have a clear complaints procedure for warranty holders to follow. If this still does not resolve the issue, the next step would be to refer the case to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) for a decision.
Asked by: Suella Braverman (Conservative - Fareham and Waterlooville)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of homeowners required to underpin their property due to construction faults within ten years after the date of completion of the purchase of a new home.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Department does not hold information on the number of new-build homes that suffer structural collapse or require underpinning as a result of construction faults or malpractice by the developer.
Most new build warranties cover damages caused by structural defects for a 10-year term. The terms of warranty should give more detail on what developers would be expected to cover in this timeframe.
Where a homeowner is dissatisfied with the service given, warranty providers should have a clear complaints procedure for warranty holders to follow. This procedure should be followed in the first instance. If the complaint is about a developer in the first two years of warranty cover, providers may offer an alternate dispute resolution service. This may need to be followed as part of the complaints process. If this still does not resolve the issue, the next step would be to refer the case to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) for a decision.
Asked by: Suella Braverman (Conservative - Fareham and Waterlooville)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of homeowners who have been required to underpin new properties within 10 years of completion due to construction faults in each of the last five years.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Department does not hold information on the number of new-build homes that suffer structural collapse or require underpinning as a result of construction faults or malpractice by the developer.
Most new build warranties cover damages caused by structural defects for a 10-year term. The terms of warranty should give more detail on what developers would be expected to cover in this timeframe.
Where a homeowner is dissatisfied with the service given, warranty providers should have a clear complaints procedure for warranty holders to follow. This procedure should be followed in the first instance. If the complaint is about a developer in the first two years of warranty cover, providers may offer an alternate dispute resolution service. This may need to be followed as part of the complaints process. If this still does not resolve the issue, the next step would be to refer the case to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) for a decision.
Asked by: Suella Braverman (Conservative - Fareham and Waterlooville)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the number of new-build homes that suffer structural collapse as a result of malpractice by the developer.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Department does not hold information on the number of new-build homes that suffer structural collapse or require underpinning as a result of construction faults or malpractice by the developer.
Most new build warranties cover damages caused by structural defects for a 10-year term. The terms of warranty should give more detail on what developers would be expected to cover in this timeframe.
Where a homeowner is dissatisfied with the service given, warranty providers should have a clear complaints procedure for warranty holders to follow. This procedure should be followed in the first instance. If the complaint is about a developer in the first two years of warranty cover, providers may offer an alternate dispute resolution service. This may need to be followed as part of the complaints process. If this still does not resolve the issue, the next step would be to refer the case to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) for a decision.
Asked by: Suella Braverman (Conservative - Fareham and Waterlooville)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the number of complaints on the quality of construction from new home owners to developers.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Building Regulations set out high-level functional requirements that most building work – including all new build housing – must meet. The regulations are supported by statutory guidance in the form of Approved Documents (ADs) which set out in more detail how to meet the functional requirements.
It is the responsibility of the building designer to comply with the requirements of the Building Regulations. The relevant building control authority will determine whether building work meets those requirements.
The Building Safety Act and the Government’s response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry set out how we will strengthen building control procedures, including establishing an independent panel to review the way in which building control is delivered in England. In October 2023, new procedures came into force which provide strengthened regulatory oversight of Building Regulations before, during, and on completion of higher-risk building work. This will ensure safer, better-quality buildings, without systemic defects.
To further reinforce standards, we remain committed to introducing a statutory New Homes Ombudsman scheme that developers will have to join, with an accompanying Code of Practice about the standards of conduct and standards of quality of work expected of members.
Asked by: Suella Braverman (Conservative - Fareham and Waterlooville)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the quality of newly constructed newbuilds.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Building Regulations set out high-level functional requirements that most building work – including all new build housing – must meet. The regulations are supported by statutory guidance in the form of Approved Documents (ADs) which set out in more detail how to meet the functional requirements.
It is the responsibility of the building designer to comply with the requirements of the Building Regulations. The relevant building control authority will determine whether building work meets those requirements.
The Building Safety Act and the Government’s response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry set out how we will strengthen building control procedures, including establishing an independent panel to review the way in which building control is delivered in England. In October 2023, new procedures came into force which provide strengthened regulatory oversight of Building Regulations before, during, and on completion of higher-risk building work. This will ensure safer, better-quality buildings, without systemic defects.
To further reinforce standards, we remain committed to introducing a statutory New Homes Ombudsman scheme that developers will have to join, with an accompanying Code of Practice about the standards of conduct and standards of quality of work expected of members.
Asked by: Suella Braverman (Conservative - Fareham and Waterlooville)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to ensure that ground surveys are effectively carried out by housing developers.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework (2024) is clear that planning proposals and decisions should ensure that a site is suitable for its proposed use taking account of ground conditions and any risks arising from land instability and contamination, and that adequate site investigation information, prepared by a competent per-son, is available to inform these assessments. Planning Practice Guidance sets out that if land stability could be an issue, developers should seek appropriate technical and environmental expert advice to assess the likely consequences of proposed developments on sites where subsidence, landslides and ground compres-sion is known or suspected.
Developers must demonstrate to a Building Control Body that they meet the functional requirements of the Building Regulations. Part A of the Building Regulations refers to loading, collapse and ground movement. Ground movement caused by swelling, shrinkage or freezing of the subsoil, land-slip or subsidence, as far as can be reasonably foreseen, ought not to impair the stability of the building. Most new build warranties cover damages caused by structural defects for a 10-year term. The terms of warranty should give more detail on what developers would be expected to cover in this timeframe.
Asked by: Suella Braverman (Conservative - Fareham and Waterlooville)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to require housing developers when assessing the suitability of sites to take into account the potential occurrence of (a) sink and (b) swell holes.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework (2024) is clear that planning proposals and decisions should ensure that a site is suitable for its proposed use taking account of ground conditions and any risks arising from land instability and contamination, and that adequate site investigation information, prepared by a competent per-son, is available to inform these assessments. Planning Practice Guidance sets out that if land stability could be an issue, developers should seek appropriate technical and environmental expert advice to assess the likely consequences of proposed developments on sites where subsidence, landslides and ground compres-sion is known or suspected.
Developers must demonstrate to a Building Control Body that they meet the functional requirements of the Building Regulations. Part A of the Building Regulations refers to loading, collapse and ground movement. Ground movement caused by swelling, shrinkage or freezing of the subsoil, land-slip or subsidence, as far as can be reasonably foreseen, ought not to impair the stability of the building. Most new build warranties cover damages caused by structural defects for a 10-year term. The terms of warranty should give more detail on what developers would be expected to cover in this timeframe.
Asked by: Suella Braverman (Conservative - Fareham and Waterlooville)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the effectiveness of structural surveys undertaken by developers for potential locations for newbuild homes.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework (2024) is clear that planning proposals and decisions should ensure that a site is suitable for its proposed use taking account of ground conditions and any risks arising from land instability and contamination, and that adequate site investigation information, prepared by a competent per-son, is available to inform these assessments. Planning Practice Guidance sets out that if land stability could be an issue, developers should seek appropriate technical and environmental expert advice to assess the likely consequences of proposed developments on sites where subsidence, landslides and ground compres-sion is known or suspected.
Developers must demonstrate to a Building Control Body that they meet the functional requirements of the Building Regulations. Part A of the Building Regulations refers to loading, collapse and ground movement. Ground movement caused by swelling, shrinkage or freezing of the subsoil, land-slip or subsidence, as far as can be reasonably foreseen, ought not to impair the stability of the building. Most new build warranties cover damages caused by structural defects for a 10-year term. The terms of warranty should give more detail on what developers would be expected to cover in this timeframe.
Asked by: Suella Braverman (Conservative - Fareham and Waterlooville)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has any plans to require housing developers to take into account the risk of structural changes when constructing new homes.
Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework (2024) is clear that planning proposals and decisions should ensure that a site is suitable for its proposed use taking account of ground conditions and any risks arising from land instability and contamination, and that adequate site investigation information, prepared by a competent per-son, is available to inform these assessments. Planning Practice Guidance sets out that if land stability could be an issue, developers should seek appropriate technical and environmental expert advice to assess the likely consequences of proposed developments on sites where subsidence, landslides and ground compres-sion is known or suspected.
Developers must demonstrate to a Building Control Body that they meet the functional requirements of the Building Regulations. Part A of the Building Regulations refers to loading, collapse and ground movement. Ground movement caused by swelling, shrinkage or freezing of the subsoil, land-slip or subsidence, as far as can be reasonably foreseen, ought not to impair the stability of the building. Most new build warranties cover damages caused by structural defects for a 10-year term. The terms of warranty should give more detail on what developers would be expected to cover in this timeframe.