Raising standards to protect homeowners
Introducing NHBC
NHBC's purpose is to raise housebuilding standards to protect homeowners. If you are buying or recently bought a brand new home, the chances are it will have 10-year warranty and insurance cover from NHBC.
The cover is split into two periods:
- Damage or defects to your home which occur during the first two years from the date of legal completion.
- Damage to specified parts of your home (essentially the structural elements), in years 3 to 10.
If you sell the home within the 10 year period, the balance of the cover can be transferred to the new owner.
Further information on NHBC's role and what we do.
Protecting homeowners whatever the market conditions
Because NHBC is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), and our insurance reserves exceed £1.4 billion, you can rely on our financial strength and the protection afforded by our new home warranty (called 'Buildmark'), whatever economic conditions prevail.
More about protecting homeowners.
Home warranties
NHBC provides a comprehensive range of new home warranty and insurance products. Our Buildmark warranty covers more than 80% of new homes in the UK, and currently protects more than 1.75 million homes. More about our warranties.
Raising standards.
NHBC Standards is a document that sets the benchmark for acceptable levels of design, material specification and workmanship for newly-built homes registered with NHBC. They are integral to our inspection process, and an essential part of protecting homeowners. The Standards document is updated regularly to meet current construction methods and regulations.
Homeowner Satisfaction
Homeowner satisfaction is our priority.
NHBC has worked with the industry to develop a 'Consumer Code for Home Builders', which becomes operational on 1 April 2010 for all NHBC registered builders. Focusing on treating customers fairly, full details will be available shortly.
We also survey over 100,000 new home owners in their first year of ownership, to provide home builders with information on how well they treat their customers.
Problems with your home?
Through our Standards and inspection service, we try to ensure that every home with a Buildmark warranty is problem free. Occasionally, problems do occur and we aim to resolve them quickly and fairly.
Treating Customers Fairly
NHBC embraces a culture of fair treatment for customers and aims to meet and, where possible, exceed the FSA's principle of Treating Customers Fairly.
If you make a claim it will be handled in a professional, courteous, impartial and timely manner.
Consumer Committee
Our Consumer Committee represents the interests of homeowners and consumers and advises on all NHBC initiatives that impact on homeowners. Most committee members are independent of NHBC, with extensive experience in consumer affairs.
Energy efficiency and new homes
New homes are much more energy efficient than older properties, as they are built in accordance with the latest Building Regulations. Research indicates that 27% of the UK's carbon emissions come from our homes.
NHBC supports Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity.
Following our involvement with international housing charity, Habitat for Humanity (HFH), where NHBC raised over £200,000, we are pleased to announce that this year we are extending our support of UK based-charities by partnering with the housing and homelessness charity, Shelter.
Like HFH, NHBC has synergy with Shelter, which helps more than 170,000 people a year find permanent homes in the UK. With repossessions in the UK at an all time high, by partnering with Shelter our support will make a real difference to people facing housing difficulty.
As well as being the lead sponsor of Shelter's Architect in the House initiative, we aim to raise £20,000 for the charity through staff-led fundraising activities over the next 12 months.
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