Independent inspection finds 150 defects

Debate over defects in new-build homes in the UK resurfaced after Georgina and Charles Barnes, who bought their first home in south Leicestershire, found 150 faults and omissions in an independent inspection carried out days after they received the keys to the £299,995 property.

The report highlighted wrongly installed fire barriers, signs suggesting a past leak and serious workmanship issues. It also identified gaps in roof work, low water pressure and incorrect installation around the gas meter cupboard and gas pipe.

The couple said the problems were eventually fixed under the home’s two-year developer warranty. But the case has underscored how buyers of new-build homes can end up paying for additional inspections after moving in.

Numbers point to pressure on buyer satisfaction

According to written evidence submitted to the New Homes Ombudsman Service, the Home Builders Federation’s March 2025 national customer satisfaction survey found that 93.7% of new-home buyers reported defects or unfinished work to the developer after moving in. Just over a quarter of buyers also said they found more than 15 problems in their homes.

Inspection costs and common issues

John Cooper, one of the founders of Swansea-based New Home Quality Control, said none of the homes his company has inspected so far has been completely free of issues. Independent inspections usually take between two and four hours depending on the size of the property and are typically priced at £349-£499.

  • Brickwork, carpentry and roofing problems
  • Missing or badly placed ventilation bricks in external walls
  • Fake vents created with decorative pieces that serve no function

Cooper said the extra cost is difficult for many buyers who have already spent their savings on the deposit and moving costs. That, he said, strengthens criticism that part of the quality risk is ultimately being pushed onto consumers.

What was the response from the industry and regulators?

NHBC, the UK’s National House Building Council, says it is the developer’s responsibility to ensure new homes comply with regulations, and that homeowners should report any defects to the builder within two years. The organisation says it can step in to help resolve disputes if problems are not fixed.

Vistry, which owns Countryside, the company that built Georgina and Charles Barnes’s home, said it supports properly carried out independent inspections as an additional safeguard. The company said each home is checked by its own teams and through independent inspections, and that any outstanding work is also addressed two to three weeks after customers move in.

The Home Builders Federation (HBF) said new homes are not factory products, most defects are minor, and there is no evidence that quality standards are lagging behind the pace of construction. The federation said around 200,000 homes are built in the UK each year, compared with a need for about 300,000, but output has not increased because of a range of obstacles.

The UK government says it has committed £39 billion for affordable housing and set aside £625 million to train up to 60,000 workers in the construction sector. The balance between rising supply needs and delivery quality remains one of the key issues in the housing market, both for buyer confidence and developers’ cost pressures.