Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, (a) when the New Homes Ombudsman Scheme will commence and (b) whether it will cover existing complaints against developers that have not been resolved.
We are bringing forward provision for the New Homes Ombudsman scheme through the Building Safety Bill which is currently before Parliament. Under the provisions of the Bill, the Secretary of State must make arrangements for the New Homes Ombudsman scheme.
The Ombudsman will not apply retrospectively. The provisions will be place new requirements on developers under the new regime which were not valid at the time of build or sale and developers will need to transition to the new regime. Homebuyers may continue to use existing redress routes in the interim.