The New Homes Ombudsman Service is calling for participation in the scheme to become a legal requirement, emphasising that homeowners need greater protection from poor-quality housing.

The Ombudsman service says that amid the government’s plan to build 1.5 million new homes over this parliament, ministers should use powers they already have to make it a legal requirement for all new housing developers to join the scheme.

The Building Safety Act 2022 included provisions to establish a New Homes Ombudsman Service that all housing developers would be required to join.