Multibillion-pound claim formally launched against top UK housebuilders

A consumer advocate has launched a multibillion-pound claim against the UK’s largest housebuilders over alleged anti-competitive behaviour.

Mark McLaren, formerly part of the campaigns team at Which?, announced earlier this year his intention to bring the claim, arguing that consumers had to pay higher prices for new-build homes due to the alleged conduct of a group of builders.

This morning McLaren announced he had formally brought a claim on behalf of more than 700,000 people who bought a new build home in the UK between October 2015 and 24 June 2026.

His claim names nine builders and seeks compensation of between £2.2bn and £4.5bn, which is equivalent to between £3,100 and £6,200 for each homeowner allegedly impacted.

The housebuilders named are Barratt Redrow, Bellway, Redrow, The Berkeley Group, Bloor Homes, Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey, Vistry Group and Countryside Partnerships.

Some of these firms completed mergers or takeovers during the claim period. Vistry bought Countryside in 2022, while Barratt and Redrow were merged in 2024.

The claim follows a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation which looked into the conduct of the builders between January 2022 and February 2024.

The CMA’s probe was closed in October 2025, with the watchdog accepting commitments from the housebuilders involved.

The housebuilders committed not to share certain types of information, to introduce enhanced compliance and training programmes, work with industry bodies to develop new guidance on information sharing, and make a combined payment of £100m towards affordable housing programmes across the UK.

McLaren’s claim goes further, claiming that the impact of alleged information sharing may have extended “well before 2022”.

He alleges that housebuilders exchanged competitively sensitive information with one another, including information relating to prices, buyer incentives and sales activity, and that these exchanges resulted in homeowners paying more than they should have.

The ‘opt-out’ nature of the claim means it would, if successful, benefit all affected house buyers unless they choose not to be covered.

“Buying a home is one of the biggest financial commitments most of us will make,” said McLaren, who has previously led a class action claim related to UK car delivery charges.

“If, as seems to be the case, housebuilders shared sensitive pricing and sales information with one another instead of competing properly, homeowners across Great Britain may well have been left out of pocket as a result. 

“This claim is about standing up for those buyers and ensuring that compensation is delivered to those who deserve it.”

McLaren is being represented by competition law firms Geradin Partners and Hausfeld, acting as co-counsel. The case is being funded by Burford Capital, which has committed up to £29m to proceedings.

Before the case can proceed it must be approved by the Competition Appeal Tribunal, which will hold an initial certification hearing to decide whether the claim can move forward as a collective action. 

If approved, it would proceed to a full trial. 

All named housebuilders and the Home Builders Federation have been approached for comment.

A Berkeley spokesperson said: “Berkeley is aware of the claim being pursued by Geradin Partners and Hausfeld. Given the nature of the proceedings, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this stage.”

Vistry, Bellway and Taylor Wimpey declined to comment.