Does the industry need another new-homes selling code?

A new homes selling code for builders which last week received the backing of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute has so far signed up just one major homes builder. The Consumer Code for New Homes (CCNH), which launched at a glitzy event last week with and which also has the backing of the Council of Mortgage Lenders, promises to introduce higher standards for the marketing, selling and purchasing of new homes. CCNH is one of half a dozen ‘codes’ launched with similar aims, in response to the 2004 Kate Barker report about the failings of the UK new homes industry. It highlighted low levels of customer satisfaction among buyers. Rival organisation the Consumer Code for House Builder was set up in 2010 and does not have the backing of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute but is linked more closely to NHBC and, it claims, is the largest with a market share of 95%. New homes selling code So far 50-plus building firms have signed up to the new code, which then automatically covers any agents selling properties on behalf of a member house builder. “Developers are responsible for ensuring all employees, temporary staff and agents that are engaged in the marketing,…

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