Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a new homes ombudsman; and if he will make a statement.

The Government knows more needs to be done to ensure consumers of new build homes have a quick, easy and effective route to redress. Which is why, in February, we published the consultation “Strengthening consumer redress in the housing market”. This follows the Secretary of State’s commitment from last November to explore options for improving redress in the housing market.

The consultation considers whether the answer might be a single housing ombudsman service, a single transparent and accountable body with the remit that covers the housing sector. Once results of this consultation have been analysed, we will then publish and work towards to the next stage.