Sherwood Forest MP Michelle Welsh has led a debate in Westminster Hall this week on the construction standards of new build homes.
The debate focused on ensuring that homebuyers receive the quality they expect and deserve when purchasing a new home.
The MP made it clear that while property developers must be held to account, local tradespeople should not be unfairly blamed. The hard work and dedication of local builders, electricians, and plumbers were acknowledged, and a strong message was sent that the real issue lies with developers who fail to maintain high standards.
The MP spoke about the experiences of constituents like Kelly and Simon from Bilsthorpe, who moved into their new home expecting it to be a safe and comfortable environment for their family. Instead, they were met with numerous issues, including an improperly installed boiler, a faulty bath, damaged flooring, and scratched windows.
Similarly, Sara from Hucknall discovered over 117 defects in her new Persimmon Homes property, including poor insulation, damaged flooring, and a broken patio door that left her home insecure. Despite some financial compensation, many defects remain unresolved, leaving Sara in distress.
These cases highlight the urgent need for better oversight and accountability in the housebuilding sector. The MP welcomed the Government’s recent acceptance of recommendations from the Competition and Markets Authority’s market study into housebuilding, particularly the introduction of a statutory UK-wide New Homes Ombudsman scheme. This will provide much-needed consumer protection and ensure that homebuyers are not left to battle developers alone.
The MP also called on the Government to take further steps to ensure that the right companies and builders are selected for future housing projects, that proper infrastructure accompanies new developments, and that quality is maintained throughout the housebuilding process.
During the debate, Michelle Welsh MP stated:”This is because we are too often seeing new build homes that are not fit for purpose, that are damaged, drafty or unsafe to live in.
“It is wrong that when you are moving to a new home or into your first ever house, that you may not get the quality that you are paying for.
“Home buyers deserve to feel confident that their new home is safe and won’t begin to crumble as soon as their key is in the door.”.
