New build has many advantages, says expert

The Home Builders Federation (HBF) has said new build houses have many advantages over older buildings and criticism of them in some sections of the media has been unjust.

HBF director of external affairs John Slaughter suggested some comment about new homes was lacking in objectivity, adding: "We are building homes to much higher standards of energy efficiency under current building regulations than older homes and they are designed more for the modern lifestyle than older properties."

He added that other advantages were the construction of such properties in contemporary styles and the fact that new residents would not be inheriting other people's DIY.

Such advantages may appeal to those considering the self build of their own homes.

The criticism to which Mr Slaughter referred included the description of only 18 per cent of new build homes in England as good or very good in the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment 2007 audit.

Any potential flaws in a new home could be avoided by the responsibility taken by self builders to avoid them.


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