The fourth edition of the Consumer Code for Home Builders was issued in September, 2017, and is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. Developers signing up to the Code must ensure the highest standards in the marketing, selling and buying of New Homes, and continue these levels of service into after- sales and customer care.
The Consumer Code relating to New Homes ensures:
- Adequate information and fair and clear documentation at the pre-purchase stage
- Minimum standards for fair and transparent contracts, accurate information regarding property availability dates, and protection of deposits at the contract exchange stage.
- Home owners’ health and safety is secure and that they are given information for maintaining and living in their property at the handover and after- sales stage.
- Consumers are offered a clear, quick and affordable resolution process should disputes and complaints arise.
The residential property team at Bretherton Law, was able to make use of the Consumer Code recently when reclaiming a New Home deposit on behalf of a client. The client had paid over a £5000 deposit to a developer for a newly built property, but had to withdraw from the purchase after their circumstances changed. The sale agreement had described the reservation fee as non-returnable, and our client assumed that their deposit had been lost.
However, Bretherton Law recognised that the developer had signed up to the Consumer Code for New Build Homes and was able to reclaim her client’s deposit, less £500 to cover the developer’s reasonable legal and administration costs.
For advice or a free quotation for acting on the sale or purchase of a new-build property please call on 01727 869293.
Related Information
For more information please visit: Consumer Code for New Build Homes
