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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to set up a New Homes Ombudsman to monitor and regulate new housing standards.

The Government is keen to improve redress for people who experience problems with their housing.

The All Party Parliamentary Group for Excellence in the Built Environment (APPG) report More homes, fewer complaints, published in July 2016, and follow up call for evidence report Better redress for home buyers released on 26 June 2018, made a number of recommendations on how we can strengthen consumer redress within the new homes market, a New Homes Ombudsman being one.

We are aware of the APPG recommendations and have been listening and responding to industry for strengthening consumer redress which is why, in February, we published the consultation Strengthening consumer redress in the housing market, which followed on the former Secretary of State's commitment to explore options for improving redress in the housing market. The consultation has now closed and my officials are analysing all responses. A response will be published in due course.