Buying A Newbuild Off Plan | Norfolk and Suffolk Sites

Consumer Code for Home Builders

In effect since April 2010, the Consumer Code for Home Builders was developed by the home-building industry to make the home-buying process fair and transparent for customers. It outlines the rights and protections granted to purchasers and ensures that they are treated fairly and are fully informed throughout the home-buying process.

At Cripps Developments Ltd, we are committed to ensuring your home-buying experience is positive, transparent, and supported by our adherence to industry standards and regulations. We fully comply with the Consumer Code for Home Builders.

The Home Buying Process

The Code covers all stages of the home-buying process, including:

Before the contract is signed

As a prospective homebuyer, you should receive sufficient pre-purchase information to make an informed decision. This includes:

A written reservation agreement which outlines:

the reservation fee,
property details,
purchase price,
how and when the reservation agreement ends, and the duration of the price validity.
A clear rundown of the structural warranty cover.
A description of any management services and associated costs.
The nature and assessment method of any event fees, such as transfer fees.

If the home is not yet completed, the information should encompass a brochure or plan illustrating the layout, appearance, plot position, list of contents, and the standards to which the home is being built.

Exchanging contracts

The Home Builder must provide a contract that is clear, fair, and complies with relevant legislation. It must outline your termination rights, and reliable information about construction timelines, legal completion, and handover dates must be communicated.

The Code also states that you must be given reliable and realistic information about when construction of your home may be finished, the date of legal completion, and the date for handover of your home.

If an unreasonable delay occurs in completing the home, you have the right not to go ahead with the purchase and have your Reservation fee returned without deductions.

Your home builder must clearly explain how contract deposits are protected and how any other pre-payments are dealt with.

Moving in

The Home Builder should facilitate a demonstration, walking through your new home and its features. Noting defects during this helps them create a 'snagging list' for necessary fixes.

Standards for finish, like brickwork and paintwork, are defined by warranty bodies, but variations in appearance among individual homes are normal as each house is uniquely built. Homes need time to settle, including gentle drying. Minor cracks, gaps, and white deposits are normal. When buying a Peveril home, more information on common issues is provided to all new home buyers with the provision of a care and maintenance guide, new homes booklet, and other helpful guides

You’ve completed and moved in – what next?

Home builders must provide an accessible after-sales service, and explain what the service includes, who to contact, and what guarantees and warranties apply to your home.

If you move into a home where building work is still in progress on surrounding properties, you must be told about the health-and-safety precautions you should take when living on a development where building work continues.

Your home builder must have procedures for receiving, handling, and resolving service calls and complaints from you and any other purchasers. You should be informed by your home builder about these procedures, and of the dispute resolution arrangements operated as part of the Code, in writing.

If You Have a Query

Even after you’ve settled into your new home, we’ll still be on hand in case you need anything, as we want to make sure everything is perfect for you. For further information please contact us direct: info@crippsdevelopments.co.uk and a Cripps Developments home advisor will contact you.

In the First Two Years

This period is commonly known as the builder warranty or defects insurance period. If you believe any aspect of your new home falls short of the required standard, reach out to your builder, responsible for addressing defects within the initial two years of your purchase. If you've reported issues to your builder, and they haven't resolved them promptly or are unable to due to insolvency, contact your home warranty provider. They may provide assistance or advice through their dispute resolution service and could even handle the necessary work.