Conservative Conference: New homes ombudsman announced

5 Oct 2018 12:43 PM

A new homes ombudsman will be established to ‘champion home buyers, protect their interests and hold developers to account’.

The announcement was made by Housing Secretary, James Brokenshire MP, in his speech to the Conservative Party Conference.

He touched on the PRS, saying renters ‘need a fair deal too’.

He said: “This new watchdog will champion home buyers, protect their interests and hold developers to account.

“And give confidence that when you get the keys to a new home you get the quality build you expect and the finish you’ve paid for.”

He continued: “Getting a fair deal extends to private renters too.

“We’ve created a rogue landlords database to identify the worst offenders.

“We are banning unfair letting agent fees being passed onto tenants and capped deposit costs too.

“Fairness also needs to be felt by people living in social housing.

“That’s why I want to see a new deal for social housing tenants.

“To deliver decent homes, strengthen redress and break unjustified stigma.”

He went on to confirm that the Government “will change the building regulations to ban the use of combustible materials for all new high rise residential buildings, hospitals, registered care homes and student accommodation.”

To read the speech in full click here.