What Consumer Code for Home Builders does

Consumer Code for Home Builders Limited is an industry-led, not-for-profit regulatory scheme established in 2010 and registered in England (company number 07081414). It sets mandatory standards covering the marketing, selling, and after-sales handling of new-build homes in the UK, and operates through a Management Board chaired by Noel Hunter OBE, with Carol Brady serving as Chief Executive. The scheme applies to most new-build homes built in the UK by builders registered with the four main home warranty bodies — NHBC, Premier Guarantee, LABC Warranty, and Checkmate policies sold by Lockton — and protects home buyers from reservation through two years after legal completion. It retains independent Approved Code status under the Chartered Trading Standards Institute's Consumer Codes Approval Scheme, a status it has held for 8 consecutive years as of June 2026.

The organisation's core offering is the Consumer Code Scheme itself, currently in its Fifth Edition effective from 1 January 2024, which superseded the Fourth Edition. The Fifth Edition enhanced complaint handling requirements, added provisions for vulnerable customers, and increased the maximum IDRS award limit from £15,000 to £50,000. Supporting products include the Independent Dispute Resolution Scheme (IDRS), operated in partnership with the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) and reported to resolve 100% of cases within 90 calendar days; free Moodle-based online training for builders, agents, and conveyancers; a Code Compliance Checklist; a Sample Reservation Agreement template; a Revised Code Transition Pack; and Right First Time factsheets. A multi-stakeholder Advisory Forum with representation from Citizens Advice, the Home Builders Federation, NHBC, Premier Guarantee, LABC Warranty, Lockton, NAEA Propertymark, the Law Society, the Law Society of Scotland, Homes for Scotland, the Federation of Master Builders, the National Federation of Builders, UK Finance, the Retirement Housing Group, HomeOwners Alliance, CEFNI, and the Council for Licensed Conveyancers advises on Code content and dissemination.

The business model is explicitly non-commercial. There are no membership fees, subscription charges, or direct payments from home buyers, builders, agents, or conveyancers for accessing the Code, training, or dispute resolution. Compliance is mandated indirectly through the registration rules of the supporting home warranty bodies. The entity is funded through its supporting warranty body and trade body partners rather than through commercial customer contracts, and revenue is not publicly disclosed. Headcount is 5 employees and operations are UK-wide with explicit exclusions for properties in the Isle of Man (unless registered with participating warranty bodies) and properties covered by the New Homes Quality Code.

Name

Consumer Code for Home Builders

Legal name

Consumer Code for Home Builders Limited

Website

https://consumercode.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Industry-led, not-for-profit UK regulatory scheme founded in 2010 that sets mandatory consumer protection standards for new-build home builders registered with NHBC, Premier Guarantee, LABC Warranty, and Checkmate, providing free dispute resolution and training across the buyer journey.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Consumer Protection Regulatory Scheme for New-Build Homes

akta.pro primary industry

Building Codes, Permitting & Inspections (Building Safety) (BPAIANAF)

Keywords

• Consumer protection scheme
• New-build home regulation
• Industry code compliance
• Housing dispute resolution
• Home warranty compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

Loughborough

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. No commercial revenue model: The Consumer Code for Home Builders is an industry-led, not-for-profit regulatory scheme. It does not sell products or services commercially. Compliance with the Code is mandatory for home builders registered with the supporting home warranty bodies as part of those bodies' rules of registration. No membership or subscription fees are charged directly by the Code.

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Consumer Code for Home Builders operates the UK Consumer Code Scheme, a mandatory industry standard that protects new-build home buyers from reservation through two years after legal completion. It sets compliance requirements for home builders in advertising, pre-purchase information, reservation agreements, and after-sales service, and provides free Independent Dispute Resolution (IDRS) via CEDR and free online training for builders, estate agents, and conveyancers. The Scheme is integrated into the registration rules of the UK's main home warranty bodies (NHBC, Premier Guarantee, LABC Warranty, Checkmate) and is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute.

Product overview

Consumer Code for Home Builders is an industry-led regulatory scheme (not a traditional software product) that provides consumer protection for new-build home buyers. The core offering is the Consumer Code Scheme itself, which sets mandatory requirements for home builders. The scheme operates through: the Consumer Code Scheme (the main standard with Fourth Edition for homes reserved up to Dec 2023 and Fifth Edition for homes reserved from Jan 2024); the Independent Dispute Resolution Scheme (provided by CEDR) for escalating complaints; and free online training delivered via Moodle for builders, agents, and conveyancers. Additional support resources include compliance checklists, sample reservation agreements, transition packs, and Right First Time factsheets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Consumer Code Scheme (Fifth Edition)
• Independent Dispute Resolution Scheme (IDRS)
• Online Training Courses
• Train the Trainer Programme
• Code Compliance Checklist
• Sample Reservation Agreement
• Revised Code Transition Pack
• Code Compliance Starter Pack
• Compliance Auditing Guide
• Right First Time Factsheets
• Home Buyers Guide

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of IDRS disputes resolved within 90 days; over 70% within 8 weeks
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCTSI provides the contact centre for dealing with Code enquiries and undertakes compliance and auditing services. CTSI also approves the Code as an independent scheme sponsor under the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme.
• NHBCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNHBC is the UK's largest new home warranty provider and a core supporting body of the Code. Builders registered with NHBC are required to comply with the Code. NHBC is represented on the Code's Advisory Forum.
• Premier GuaranteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier Guarantee is a supporting home warranty body of the Code. Builders registered with Premier Guarantee are required to comply with the Code. Premier Guarantee is represented on the Code's Advisory Forum.
• LABC WarrantycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLABC Warranty is a supporting home warranty body of the Code. Builders registered with LABC Warranty are required to comply with the Code. LABC Warranty is represented on the Code's Advisory Forum.
• Checkmate policies sold by Lockton (Lockton Companies LLP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLockton Companies LLP sells Checkmate warranty policies and is a supporting home warranty body of the Code. Builders with Checkmate policies through Lockton are required to comply with the Code. Lockton is represented on the Code's Advisory Forum.
• Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEDR provides the Independent Dispute Resolution Scheme (IDRS) for the Code, approved by CTSI as the competent authority. CEDR resolves disputes through an independent adjudication process, with 100% of cases resolved within 90 calendar days.
• Citizens AdvicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCitizens Advice is represented on the Code's Advisory Forum and chairs the independent Disciplinary and Sanctions Panel, which reviews adjudicator decisions and takes further action on serious or repeated Code breaches.
• Home Builders Federation (HBF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHBF is represented on the Code's Advisory Forum, which advises on Code content, practical application, and operation. HBF also conducts the National New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey referenced by the Code.
• Law SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Law Society (England and Wales) is represented on the Code's Advisory Forum, contributing to discussions on Code content and operation for the benefit of solicitors and conveyancers.
• Law Society ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Law Society of Scotland is represented on the Code's Advisory Forum, contributing to discussions on Code content relevant to Scottish legal practitioners.
• Homes for ScotlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomes for Scotland is represented on the Code's Advisory Forum and shares Code updates with its member home builders in Scotland.
• Federation of Master Builders (FMB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Federation of Master Builders is represented on the Code's Advisory Forum and helps disseminate Code information to its member builders.
• National Federation of Builders (NFB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Federation of Builders is represented on the Code's Advisory Forum.
• NAEA PropertymarkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAEA Propertymark is represented on the Code's Advisory Forum and has partnered with the Code to develop the Code Compliance Starter Pack for estate agents.
• UK FinanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK Finance is represented on the Code's Advisory Forum, contributing to discussions on Code content relevant to mortgage lenders and financial services.
• Retirement Housing Group (RHG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRetirement Housing Group renewed its commitment to the CCHB Advisory Forum in February 2026. RHG represents retirement housing providers and helps disseminate Code information.
• HomeOwners AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomeOwners Alliance is represented on the Code's Advisory Forum, representing the consumer/homebuyer perspective.
• Construction Employers Federation (NI) (CEFNI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Construction Employers Federation for Northern Ireland is represented on the Code's Advisory Forum, contributing to Code discussions for Northern Ireland.
• Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Council for Licensed Conveyancers is represented on the Code's Advisory Forum.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Citizens Advice: Citizens Advice chairs CCHB's independent Disciplinary and Sanctions Panel and represents the consumer voice on its Advisory Forum. It is comparable as a UK consumer protection body providing independent redress guidance for housing-related disputes.
• Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI): CTSI administers the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme under which CCHB holds Approved Code status and also operates CCHB's contact centre and audit function. It is comparable as the overarching UK consumer protection/standards authority that approves and oversees sectoral codes like CCHB.
• National Federation of Builders (NFB): NFB is represented on CCHB's Advisory Forum and represents SME builders in the UK. It is comparable as an industry stakeholder body engaged in setting and disseminating consumer protection standards in the new-build sector.
• Home Builders Federation (HBF): HBF is the principal UK trade body representing home builders and runs the National New Homes Customer Satisfaction Survey cited by CCHB. It is comparable as a sector-wide governance stakeholder that intersects with CCHB's mission to improve new-build consumer outcomes.

Emerging players

• TrustMark: TrustMark is a government-endorsed quality scheme covering tradespeople and home improvement/repair work. It is comparable as a UK consumer protection/quality scheme with dispute processes, though its sectoral focus is renovations rather than new-build sales.

Broad incumbents

• The Property Ombudsman (TPO): TPO is one of the UK's two government-approved estate agent redress schemes and operates consumer dispute resolution comparable in mechanism to CCHB's IDRS. It serves an adjacent (but overlapping) stakeholder group—estate agents selling new-build homes covered by CCHB.
• The Property Redress Scheme: The Property Redress Scheme is the other government-approved estate agent redress scheme in the UK. It performs a similar consumer dispute resolution function to CCHB's IDRS, though focused on estate agency rather than home builder conduct.

Direct peers

• New Homes Quality Board (NHQB): NHQB operates the New Homes Quality Code, the principal alternative consumer protection scheme for new-build homes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is the closest functional substitute for CCHB, with overlapping remit on builder marketing, sales and after-sales standards.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheCode_CCHB
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJKWkOX-JqSsfCiiB9ssXLA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/consumer-code

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Consumer Code for Home Builders