A new national quality mark for new housing has been launched by the BRE (Building Research Establishment) which it believes, ‘will transform the way consumers choose the homes they buy’. The BRE also believes it will help housebuilders differentiate themselves in the marketplace.
Using a 5-star rating, the Home Quality Mark is designed to give home buyers and renters a clear indication of the quality and performance of a new home. It will illustrate the home’s overall running costs and show the impact of the home on the occupant’s health and wellbeing. It will also demonstrate the home’s environmental footprint and its resilience to flooding and overheating in a changing climate. Additionally the mark has been designed to evaluate the digital connectivity and performance of the home.
Recent consumer research carried out by BRE supports the introduction of the Home Quality Mark with 97% of respondents in a survey saying they would welcome it. The organisation believes that for housebuilders it will provide a valuable independent quality mark they can use to highlight the innovative features of their homes and differentiate themselves in the marketplace at a time of rapid growth and change. A number of housebuilders including CALA Homes, Linden Homes and Lend Lease, and other stakeholders, are working with BRE on the development of the mark.
Chief Executive of BRE, Dr Peter Bonfield says: “It is our long term goal that the Home Quality Mark will become the de facto sign of a better home – something that home buyers can rely on and use in their purchase decisions. It will also be used by house builders to demonstrate the quality and performance of the homes they deliver.”
CALA Homes Chief Executive Alan Brown said: “Independent benchmarking of new homes is hugely important. For CALA, it provides third party recognition of our commitment to consistently build high quality, sustainable homes. We look forward to working with BRE on the new Home Quality Mark.”
House builders can register developments under the Home Quality Mark from June 2015. For further information go to www.homequalitymark.com
