Beyond the Back Garden: Protecting your home with Consumer Code for Home Builders

2 JULY 2025 : Approved Code Scheme.

As summer gets underway, outdoor spaces like gardens and garages naturally take centre stage for many homeowners. Whilst it is easy to focus on renovating or gardening, it is also a good time to look towards the broader landscape of consumer protection within the housing market.

This month, we are highlighting some helpful blogs published by the Consumer Code for Home Builders.

Gardens, garages and beyond: When purchasing a new build home, the external appearance of a home, additional features such as garages and gardens can have a big impact of both desirability and value of the property.

According to some estimates from Estate Agents, a garden can add approximately 20% into the value of a property. Recognising the importance of external features, the Consumer Code for Home Builders covers gardens, boundary, fencing, communal areas and curtilage of new homes as well as the home itself.

Find out what to consider when choosing your next home.

Who Does What in Consumer Protection for New-Build Homes: Understanding who’s responsible for what in the housing sector can be tricky. This article breaks down the range of organisations, codes, and redress schemes that work together to protect buyers of new-build homes. Read more

Who are the Consumer Code for Home Builders?

The Consumer Code for Home Builders (CCHB) operates a Code or Practice that has been officially - and repeatedly - approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. The CCHB exists to make the home-buying process fairer and more transparent for home buyers. Their Code sets mandatory requirements that home builders must meet when they market and sell new homes and in their after-sales customer service. 

To find out more about the CCHB, please visit their Code Sponsor Profile (in the Approved Code Directory) or visit their website.