New Home News 2010
30 December 2010
Condensing boilers in new homes unreliable in cold weather.
The Daily Mail reports that the recent cold weather has increased the number of call
outs for boiler breakdowns. British Gas had 100,000 boiler related call-
Apparently, modern condensing boilers are prone to suffer from freezing of the waste pipe at the back of the boiler, which in turn causes the boiler to shut down often causing permanent damage to the boilers sensitive components.
Around 8 million gas fired condensing boilers have been fitted in British homes since it became mandatory in April 2005. However, this type of boiler has a short working life generally of 3 to 6 years and after 4 years replacement is normally recommended if they suffer a breakdown. Condensing boilers have been fitted in all new homes built since 2005. For more on condensing boilers click
3 December 2010
UK new homes not as energy efficient as SAP ratings suggest
By 2016 all new homes built in Britain will need to be “carbon-
During the third quarter of 2010, new homes scored an average SAP rating of 79.3 out of a possible 100. In contrast, 40% of homes built before 1919 have a SAP rating of less than 40. However, a recent study shows that new homes are not as energy efficient as the SAP rating would indicate. Researchers at the Centre of the Built Environment at Leeds Metropolitan University have found that in a study of 16 new homes, the actual performance of the home was on average, the heat loss was 60% higher than the SAP rating suggested.
The UK Green Buildings Council is lobbying the Government to introduce a new way of testing the actual heat loss in new homes not rely on the theoretical SAP rating. It is thought the test would add an extra £5,000 to the cost of building a new home.
23 November 2010
Zurich withdraws from the new home warranty market
Following an internal review, Zurich has decided to exit the new-
Zurich stated
it will honour its existing commitments to customers and policy holders, with site
inspections, building control activity, claims and queries.
28 October 2010
Insurers bring timber frame workmanship under scrutiny
Insurers are becoming increasingly
concerned by the additional fire risks associated with timber frame construction
and are putting the quality of workmanship under scrutiny when assessing claims following
fires in timber frame buildings.
Insurer Brit Insurance has issued a writ to house builder Taylor Wimpey and their timber frame contractor, in a £2.6 million claim that is set to reach the courts. Brit Insurance alleges that the cavity fire barriers were either inadequately installed or missing. This case could be significant as it demonstrates that insurers are taking steps to limit their losses when fires cause disproportionate damage in badly built timber frame buildings.
Dr Jim Glockling, the Fire Protection Association’s technical director and chair of a research group set up by the insurance industry, predicts there will be many more detailed inspections into whether buildings were constructed properly and if any failings in quality contributed to the extent of loss in a fire. He also suggested that when new timber frame buildings require insurance, if there is a suspicion the fire stopping measures may not be installed properly, a survey may be required before an insurer will provide cover.
Fire experts say this is an example of timber frame construction being given closer examination by insurers and premiums are set to rise and in some cases insurance may be refused.
8 October 2010
HSE publishes new guidance for fire safety in construction.
In the wake of several fires this year on sites using on timber frame construction, the HSE has wasted no time in revising their guidance notes for those managing and carrying out construction work involving a significant risk of fire. The new and detailed guidance specifically details the fire risks associated with timber frame construction and the precautions to be considered at the earliest possible stage of a timber frame project.
The HSE guidance states that timber framed buildings are “more vulnerable to fire
before the external finishes are in place” and that “timber-framed buildings create
a heightened risk of a fire spreading beyond the site to neighbouring buildings.”
The guidance requires clients, designers and managers consider carefully the specific site, location and development and the fire risks it posed to both those on site and neighbouring properties and to ensure those risks are minimised.”
HSE Guidance on Fire Safety in Construction Download PDF.
14 September 2010
Castleoak’s Basingstoke building site destroyed by fire.
Basingstoke building site fire. Three teenagers were arrested and later released
on Police bail as part of an investigation into a huge blaze that destroyed a Castleoak
building site in Gershwin Road, Basingstoke on Friday 10th September 2010. The £9.5
million project of 64 flats for over 60’s with care needs was the being constructed
by Castleoak Care Partnerships, the Cardiff-based specialist care home building contractors.
Castleoak’s client, Saxon Weald Housing Association, have released this statement
CLICK.
Fire-
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Chief Officer John Bonney, President of the Chief
Fire Officers Association, warns about the danger of timber-
Castleoak has been using the timber frame method of construction since 1987 and all
their projects around the UK in care home and extra-
Castleoak issued the following statement on their website on Sunday:
“Following the outbreak of a fire which destroyed the above site on Friday 10 September
2010, the following statement has been issued on behalf of Castleoak: This was a
very serious incident and we are co-
Castleoak HSE Prosecution Click
The latest fire statistics compiled for the Department of Communities and Local Government
conclude fires in timber-
The CLG report for the period April 2009 to March 2010 reveals there were a total
of 400 fires on construction sites in the period, 50 of which were in timber frame
buildings under construction. The report indicates that there is “a higher ratio
of fires in timber frame buildings than those of other construction. Fires in timber-
A recently published summary of work by the HSE in the construction sector confirms
that the number of enforcement notices regarding fire safety has increased. Examination
of the HSE Enforcement database shows almost 200 enforcement notices were issued
by their inspectors on fire matters during 2010 (at 17 August 2010). Major construction
site fires are “low probability/high consequence” events which have rarely led to
human disaster on the scale feared. However, recent spectacular fires, particularly
on timber-
The Chief Fire Officers association added “managers of building sites needed to ensure security arrangements are in place to prevent fire risks from arsonists.”
The former building on this site, Beechdown Primary School, was also destroyed by fire on 23rd November 2000. Two 14 year old boys were subsequently charged with arson. At the request of their defence solicitors, they were tried separately at Winchester Crown Court. Each blamed the other and both were acquitted.
7th September 2010
BS5973:1993 is to be formally withdrawn by the end of 2010.
A new standard in scaffolding, TG20:08 will apply from 1st January 2011. This has
been produced by the NASC to give technical guidance and good practice for scaffolding
with tubes and fittings to ensure compliance with the European Standard BS EN12811-
1st September 2010
NHBC changes registered office.
With effect from 1st September 2010 all correspondence should be addressed to:
NHBC, NHBC House, Davy Avenue, Knowhill, MILTON KEYNES, Bucks. MK5 8FP
The NHBC telephone number remains unchanged: 0844 633 1000
29 August 2010
First time buyers being frozen out of home ownership.
Research by the National Housing Federation indicates that a whole generation is
being excluded from the housing market as mortgage lenders demand ever higher deposits
before granting a mortgage. Loan to value percentages are at their lowest ever; with
some lenders requiring at least 25% of the purchase price as a deposit -
17 August 2010
The July edition shows that the growth in new starts has significantly slowed in recent months and had been driven by the larger house builders. NHBC figures show that 102,300 new homes were started in the UK in the last 12 months compared with 82,250 new homes started in 2009.
23rd June 2010
Number of new homes registered with NHBC rises 68%
The NHBC report a rise in the number of new homes being registered by builders. In the period March to May 2010 a total of 32,352 new homes were registered, a 68% increase on the same period in 2009.
20 May 2010
HIPs are history: Eric Pickles suspends Home Information Packs with immediate effect.
The Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles and Housing Minister Grant Shapps have announced that with immediate effect, they are suspending the requirement for homeowners to provide a Home Information Pack (HIP) when selling their homes.
Mr Pickles today [20 May 2010] laid an Order suspending HIPs with immediate effect, pending primary legislation for their permanent abolition.
In an effort to help reduce energy bills and tackle climate change, sellers will still be required to commission an Energy Performance Certificate before marketing their property.
Whilst there is no longer a requirement to provide a HIP sellers can still provide one if they wish to do so. The continuing use of existing HIPs is also at the sellers discretion.
6 May 2010
BBC Watchdog programme highlights poor quality Persimmon Homes.
BBC consumer programme Watchdog has received several complaints about the number of defects that buyers are finding in their newly built homes. Mr Arun Soni moved into his brand new Charles Church house in North London more than two years ago. Since then he says he's had hundreds of defects. These included large cracks, peeling paint on his front door and a leaking garage roof. Several of his heating and water pipes were not secured properly when the house was built so when they cool down at night they knock against the ceiling boarding.
His builder has tried to fix the problem in several places but Arun is still having sleepless nights. "It's been an absolute nightmare. It's caused sleep deprivation for the whole family," Arun told the BBC.
For full BBC report and programme clip click
The NHBC received around 63,000 complaints about faults in new houses two years ago. Last year, the number of complaints actually increased despite the recession and 40% FEWER new homes being built. All new homes will have snags so it pays to have your new home inspected by a professional snagging inspector.
30 April 2010
House Prices continue to rise.
The latest house price index show house prices are increasing, although have to increase by an average of around 8.3% to be at the previous peak level. According to the Halifax, house prices rose 1.1% in March 2010 rising 5.2% higher than a year ago. Nationwide indicates house prices rose 1% and are 10.5% higher than a year ago.
6 April 2010
Community Infrastructure Levy introduced
The Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 have been passed to replace the Section 106 planning agreements. With similar intentions to the previous system, it allows local authorities in England and Wales to raise funds from developers undertaking new building projects in their area. The money raised is then earmarked to fund infrastructure projects that may be required as a result of development.
More at Community Infrastructure Levy.
24 March 2010
Stamp Duty suspended for two years for First time buyers
In his last budget before the General Election, Alistair Darling announced he was suspending Stamp Duty on properties sold for less than £250,000 for First Time Buyers only. This will apply from now to 25th March 2012. To fund this, stamp duty on homes selling for £1 million or more will attract a new 5% Stamp Duty from 6th April 2011. The new upper rate will affect between 10,000 to 15,000 home buyers every year.
16 March 2010
Code for Sustainable homes level 3 (CSH3)
This code makes it mandatory for developers to reduce the carbon footprint and include such features as Bat boxes, water flow inhibitors and expensive heating systems. House builders believe this could easily increase the cost of a brand new home by up to £20,000.
West Berkshire Council became the first council in the UK to introduce a policy requiring
new buildings to be constructed to “standards of excellence” in terms of sustainability.
However, they were recently forced to shelve their eco-
Opinion: Brand-
15 February 2010
Consumer Code for Home Builders
From 1st April 2010, the new code sets out requirements that the builders of new
homes which are covered by a new home warranty must meet. The purpose of the Code
is to ensure that Home Buyers: are treated fairly; know what service levels to expect;
are given reliable information upon which to make their decisions; and know how to
access speedy, low-
www.consumercodefornewhomebuyers.com
25 October 2009
Buying “off-
In a rising market, buying off-
During the current recession, many house builders put their operations on hold or
slowed production, resulting in homes not being built as quickly as they may have
done before the credit crunch. The Mail on Sunday reports one such builder, Berkeley
Homes, has many off-
This is against a backdrop of Berkeley’s biggest shareholder being Lloyds TSB, one
of the banks bailed out by the taxpayer. Whilst at the top, Tony Pidgley, Chairman
of Berkeley Group, whose pay, including the maximum bonus totalled £2.4 million
last year. He also collected shares worth £34 million in a controversial long term
reward scheme. No wonder Berkeley’s off-
www. berkeleyhomescollective.com
Picture by Hampshire Fire and Rescue