Quality Assurance Reviews

NHBC offers services to assist businesses in preparing for a QAR.

Maintain records of quality improvements, provide ongoing staff training, and actively seek and respond to customer feedback.

Regularly, and at a minimum, in conjunction with the annual QAR.

Effective preparation is essential for a successful review; consider these pointers:

An NHBC quality consultant will guide you through the process and help your teams get ready.
Conduct internal reviews, review documentation, and ensure your staff are well prepared.
Upload evidence to the platform in advance so the consultant can review it beforehand.

Once you have successfully embedded QA into your business and gained a NHBC QA rating, you enter the three-year rating cycle. This cycle includes a full face to face QAR every third year and annual virtual surveillance QARs in intervening years. The full QAR includes a comprehensive review against the 21 requirements, the intervening years includes a targeted review against known areas of improvement and spot checking. Should performance slip, the frequency of the full QAR can be reduced to keep within the rating scheme.

Costs vary depending on the size and complexity of the organisation. Get in touch to find out more.

No. CQRs concentrate on the build quality output, while QARs emphasise the inputs – processes, procedures, policies and competencies

Quality Assurance Reviews (QARs) complement our on-site Construction Quality Assurance Reviews, focusing on quality-related processes, procedures, competencies and policies. Unlike standard quality assurance audits, we use the NHBC new homes sector-specific QA framework for a practical, tailored approach. Designed for continuous improvement, our Rating supports businesses at every stage.

Key areas include the following six themes:
• Leadership and Strategy for Construction Quality
• Plan for Quality
• Design and Innovation for Quality
• Build for Quality Outcomes
• Analyse Quality Performance
• Change for Quality Improvement

Common improvement areas include incomplete documentation, inconsistent application of procedures, and gaps in staff competencies.

The QAR uses a 1-6 scoring scale, similar to other NHBC metrics, but with a key difference: it focuses on continuous improvement. The scoring follows these levels:

1. Beginning – Initial stages with minimal processes in place.
2. Emerging – Early development with some progress.
3. Developing – Growing structure and consistency.
4. Competent – Meets standard expectations.
5. Proficient – Exceeds expectations with strong performance.
6. Exemplary – Demonstrates best practices and excellence.

Our experienced consultant will thoroughly review your processes and documentation related to the framework. This will involve detailed discussions and clarifying questions to ensure a comprehensive understanding of your current practices.

The report includes an overall rating with a clear 1-6 scoring logic across 21 key quality requirements with actionable insights highlighting strengths, areas of improvement, and practical recommendations.

A QAR is typically one-day on-site review at your offices, where we use our framework to evaluate your existing quality assurance processes, procedures, competencies, and policies. You will need to upload supporting documentation as evidence. After the review, you will receive a RAG-rated report highlighting strengths, areas of improvement and actionable recommendations.

Compared to many other sectors, the house-building industry has a higher rate of construction-related defects. This is partly due to a traditional reliance on ‘after the event’ quality control, with limited emphasis on structured processes to drive consistent quality and efficiency. QARs aim to promote a right-first-time culture, helping businesses in the new homes sector improve repeatability and deliver better outcomes.

NHBC quality assurance consultants conduct QARs as part of NHBC’s Construction Quality Services.

QARs are suitable for builders, developers, trades, housing associations, build-to-rent sectors and manufacturers.

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Frequently asked questions

: Quality Assurance Reviews (QARs) complement our on-site Construction Quality Assurance Reviews, focusing on quality-related processes, procedures, competencies and policies. Unlike standard quality assurance audits, we use the NHBC new homes sector-specific QA framework for a practical, tailored approach. Designed for continuous improvement, our Rating supports businesses at every stage.
: QARs are suitable for builders, developers, trades, housing associations, build-to-rent sectors and manufacturers.
: A QAR is typically one-day on-site review at your offices, where we use our framework to evaluate your existing quality assurance processes, procedures, competencies, and policies. You will need to upload supporting documentation as evidence. After the review, you will receive a RAG-rated report highlighting strengths, areas of improvement and actionable recommendations.
: Our experienced consultant will thoroughly review your processes and documentation related to the framework. This will involve detailed discussions and clarifying questions to ensure a comprehensive understanding of your current practices.
: No. CQRs concentrate on the build quality output, while QARs emphasise the inputs – processes, procedures, policies and competencies

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Quality Assurance Reviews