A coalition of industry leaders and housing advocates has urged the government to enforce stricter quality standards for new homes planned under the Your First Home scheme, ahead of the upcoming Budget announcement. The initiative, aimed at helping first-time buyers access new properties, has been welcomed but also prompts calls for robust safeguards to protect purchasers and public investment.

Richard Bass, managing director of Amethyst Homes, Amer Allacher, operations director of Balfour Beatty, and Paula Higgins, chief executive of the Homeowners Alliance, alongside other stakeholders, emphasized the importance of ensuring that every home sold through the scheme meets clear quality criteria. They argue that with public funds supporting these transactions, establishing statutory requirements and independent oversight is critical to maintain buyer confidence and uphold standards.

The group noted that while many developers already adhere to voluntary quality benchmarks, making such standards mandatory for participation in the Your First Home scheme would create a level playing field. They advocate for the immediate introduction of a government-backed new-build quality code, which would provide independent redress mechanisms through an ombudsman for homeowners encountering issues.

Proponents assert that these measures would not only safeguard consumers and taxpayers but also recognize and reward developers committed to high-quality construction. Furthermore, implementing enforceable standards could strengthen trust in the broader housing market and the new properties being delivered across the country.

As the government prepares to outline its housing and economic priorities in the forthcoming Budget, stakeholders stress that this juncture provides an opportunity to embed these protections into the scheme’s framework. The call reinforces ongoing discussions surrounding the intersection of housing affordability, quality, and regulatory oversight within the sector.