At Advantage, we’re proud to be a part of Trading Standards’ Consumer Codes Approval Scheme. According to Trading Standards: “Consumers can look out for the CTSI approved code logo when searching for a business. They can be confident that any approved business they choose has a proven commitment to honest business and higher customer standards.”
Advantage is a CTSI Code Sponsor and Sales Director David Sumner said: “We are very proud to have worked closely with the Consumer Codes Approval scheme team for a number of years to ensure that we are going above and beyond with the level of service that we deliver for our clients.
“We’d urge people to do their research and to look for the CTSI logo when deciding which businesses to work with.”
Consumer Code safeguards for buyers of new build homes
The Advantage team spends their days helping to secure structural warranties for clients who are building the houses of the future – whether they’re leading developers or individual housebuilders. So naturally we take a keen interest in anything that gives homeowners added peace of mind.
So today we’re highlighting five ways in which the Consumer Code protects buyers of new build homes. Here are just a handful of the additional protections they’ve been offering for the past 12 years:
1. Your reservation fee is protected. Builders should return your reservation fee if you change your mind, minus any reasonable costs. Any deductions along with cancellation terms must be stated on your agreement so that you can make an informed decision.
2. Your deposit is protected. In the unlikely event your builder goes out of business before completing your home, you will receive a refund, or the warranty body will step in to complete your home
3. High pressure sales tactics are not allowed – developers are likely to be found in breach of the Code if they put consumers under undue pressure to make a sale
4. You can change your mind. If a developer significantly changes the specification of your home, and to which you did not agree, or if there is an unreasonable delay in finishing the construction, you may be able to pull out of the sale, even after exchange of contracts, and receive a full refund
5. You’re still protected after completion. The Code requires developers to provide an after sales service to support home buyers for two years after completion, including an accessible complaints service.
Consumers can take their complaint to the Independent Dispute Resolution Scheme (IDRS) free of charge if they believe their home builder has breached the Code. In the last year alone (2021), the IDRS dealt with over 300 complaints and paid out more than £140,000 to help put things right. Further details can be seen here.
If you require latent defects cover, call: 0845 900 3969, email: sales@ahci.co.uk or pay a visit to our homepage: https://ahci.co.uk/