New leadership at New Homes Quality Board

Rob Brighouse, NHQB Chair, said; 

“I would like to thank Leon for his great contribution to NHQB in setting up the Executive Team, working with the board to get us to this point and building up our relationships with consumer groups, industry and government. I have every confidence that under Emma’s leadership this momentum can, and will, be maintained.”

In late 2022, NHQB launched the New Homes Quality Code in England, Scotland and Wales. The Code was launched in Northern Ireland at an event at Stormont last month which was very well supported by Members of the Legislative Assembly across all the leading parties, by representatives from leading developers, and other key stakeholders. The NHQB have welcomed registrations from a range of developers, including nearly all large and medium housebuilders. Once they have activated their registration, this will amount to approximately 80% of the new homes built annually in England, Scotland, and Wales.

During the same period, the New Homes Ombudsman Service (NHOS) has been fully mobilised. It has decided on its first cases, helping customers resolve issues with their new homes, using the Code as their benchmark. Since its introduction, consumers have welcomed the Code, and the joint work of the NHQB and the NHOS, with many housebuilders already implementing the robust and rigorous measures to meet compliance.

Leon Livermore, added:

“It has been my great pleasure to serve as the first Chief Executive of the New Homes Quality Board. I am grateful for the support provided by both the team and Board.  Having worked hard together we are now in the position of covering the whole of the UK, the Ombudsman in place and a significant percentage of the market already signed up.

This represents a significant improvement in the levels of consumer protection for purchasers of new homes and I have no doubt that the NHQB will continue to go from strength to strength.”