Consumer Code for Home Builders appoints industry expert to its Board

Home building industry expert, Philip Hogg, has been appointed to the Board of the Consumer Code for Home Builders (the Code), which provides protection for buyers of new-build homes.

Philip brings extensive industry experience to the Code, having held board-level positions within the home building sector for over 20 years, including four years as Chief Executive of Homes for Scotland. In that time, he has been directly involved in handling customer issues as well as leading on compliance with relevant legislation and standards.

Commenting on his appointment, Philip Hogg said: “During my time at Homes for Scotland, I enjoyed working with the Consumer Code for Home Builders’ Board and Advisory Forum and felt able to make a valuable contribution. Drawing on my most recent experience of working for a major builder, I hope my knowledge of the sector, and direct experience of resolving customer issues, will help to inform the Board’s decisions from a practical and operational perspective.”

The Code sets requirements that builders* must meet when marketing and selling new-build homes, including after sales support for buyers. The Code also provides an Independent Dispute Resolution Scheme giving consumers free access to redress should they need it, as well as compliance monitoring and sanctions to help improve customer service standards across the industry.

Noel Hunter OBE, Code Chair, said: “Codes of practice play a vital role in protecting consumers, but they can only work if the requirements are practical, achievable, and supported with appropriate sanctions. Understanding the sector and how to support builders to provide better services to consumers is as important as providing redress when builders fall short. Philip’s experience will help us make sure we’re providing workable solutions which directly benefit consumers and drive up service quality in partnership with the industry.”

The Code’s Board is independently chaired by Noel Hunter OBE. Its members include an independent consumer expert as well as representatives from Citizens Advice, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, and the UK’s main warranty bodies NHBC, MD Insurance Services and Checkmate. The Board is responsible for operating the Consumer Code Scheme which is supported by a broad industry and consumer Advisory Forum.

*Builders operating under one of the Code’s supporting warranty bodies (NHBC, LABC Warranty, Premier Guarantee, Checkmate) must comply with the Consumer Code for Home Builders unless they have opted to join a different code scheme.