'Quality gap' in brand new homes

An Inspector Home product story

Edited by the Buildingtalk editorial team Apr 12, 2007

Research study by academics at Glasgow Caledonian University and Inspector Home exposes the 'quality gap' in brand new homes.

Brand new homes have between 0 and 405 defects, according to the latest research by academics at Glasgow Caledonian University and Inspector Home, the UK's leading snagging company for new homes.

All property sizes had wide variations on the number of defects found, indicating that a 'Quality Gap' in the new homes market is developing.

The figures for each property size are: one bed - best 1, worst 104; two bed - best 0, worst 195; three bed - best 8, worst 218; four bed - best 14, worst 405; five bed - best 32, worst 298.

Inspector Home has been campaigning for higher standards in the new homes industry for the past five years.

In 2004, when the company took a petition to the House of Commons, the average new home had 68 defects - two years later, this figure now stands at 72.

In light of these findings, the company is stepping up pressure on the government and new homes developers to take action.

"How can new home buyers possibly know in advance if their property will have one defect or hundreds," says Stephen Nancarrow, director of Inspector Home.

"We know that some developers are taking steps to improve quality, but not in sufficient numbers to make a significant impact on the industry as a whole".

"Buying a brand new home has become a quality lottery and that is totally unacceptable".

On a more positive note, Inspector Home has awarded certificates to those developers achieving high standards of finish throughout 2006 and they include Bellway, David McClean, Cala, Fairview New Homes and several other regional developers.

In addition to its work on behalf of homeowners and investors, Inspector Home also works with developers, helping them improve quality standards before purchase to ensure that customer satisfaction is high.

"Our aim is to improve quality in the new homes industry," says Stephen Nancarrow, "and we will work with all parties involved in the process to ensure that this happens.