National House Building Council
Encyclopedia
The National House Building Council (NHBC) was originally set up as the National House Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) in the United Kingdom
in 1936. The name changed in 1973.
As a Registered Housebuilder under the voluntary scheme, houses were inspected during building, buyers were covered by a 2 year warranty
against major defects, and against the insolvency of the builder. By 1963, 26% of all housing was built by Registered Housebuilders.
In 1964 and 1965 changes were introduced, including the extension of the warranty to 10 years.
1967 saw the upgrading of the NHBRC's standards, particularly in the provision of power outlets, kitchen design and space heating, drawing on the recommendations of the Parker Morris Committee
. By the end of 1970, 92% of new homes were built by NHBRC members.
Under the Building Act 1984
the NHBC set up a subsidiary company (NHBC Building Control Services Ltd) to become an approved inspector for verifying that buildings were built in accordance to the UK's national building regulations.
(CML). The key stage are Foundations, drainage, superstructure i.e. brickwork etc. pre-plaster and pre-handover to the customer. There is an additional inspection on apartments/flats of the roof construction.
In addition to the building control of home construction and the warranty for home-owners, NHBC also has services to its builder members, such as health and safety, training, sustainability
(such as Energy Performance Certificate
s, EcoHomes
and the Code for Sustainable Homes
), and acoustic and air-leakage testing.
consumer television programme Watchdog for failing to repair homes due to incorrect surveying of problem properties by relevant professionals, and thus failing to either compensate owners financially or fix any problems promptly, for new build properties under their warranty.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1936. The name changed in 1973.
As a Registered Housebuilder under the voluntary scheme, houses were inspected during building, buyers were covered by a 2 year warranty
Warranty
In business and legal transactions, a warranty is an assurance by one party to the other party that specific facts or conditions are true or will happen; the other party is permitted to rely on that assurance and seek some type of remedy if it is not true or followed.In real estate transactions, a...
against major defects, and against the insolvency of the builder. By 1963, 26% of all housing was built by Registered Housebuilders.
In 1964 and 1965 changes were introduced, including the extension of the warranty to 10 years.
1967 saw the upgrading of the NHBRC's standards, particularly in the provision of power outlets, kitchen design and space heating, drawing on the recommendations of the Parker Morris Committee
Parker Morris Committee
The Parker Morris Committee drew up an influential 1961 report on housing space standards in public housing in the United Kingdom titled Homes for Today and Tomorrow. The report concluded that the quality of social housing needed to be improved to match the rise in living standards and made a...
. By the end of 1970, 92% of new homes were built by NHBRC members.
Under the Building Act 1984
Building Act 1984
The Building Act 1984 is a United Kingdom statute consolidiating previous legislation concerning building v., buildings n. and related matters...
the NHBC set up a subsidiary company (NHBC Building Control Services Ltd) to become an approved inspector for verifying that buildings were built in accordance to the UK's national building regulations.
New builds
On new builds the NHBC inspector carries out a series of "Key stage" inspections. This is to ensure the properties are built to the standards of both the NHBC and the Council of Mortgage LendersCouncil of Mortgage Lenders
The Council of Mortgage Lenders is an industry body representing mortgage lenders in the United Kingdom.Its members consist of banks, building societies and specialist lenders and represent 98% of mortgage lending in the UK....
(CML). The key stage are Foundations, drainage, superstructure i.e. brickwork etc. pre-plaster and pre-handover to the customer. There is an additional inspection on apartments/flats of the roof construction.
In addition to the building control of home construction and the warranty for home-owners, NHBC also has services to its builder members, such as health and safety, training, sustainability
Sustainability
Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
(such as Energy Performance Certificate
Energy Performance Certificate
Energy Performance Certificates were introduced in England and Wales on 1 August 2007 as part of Home Information Packs for domestic properties with four or more bedrooms . When the requirement for HIPs was removed in May 2010, the requirement for EPCs continued. The scheme for HIPs was extended...
s, EcoHomes
EcoHomes
EcoHomes is an environmental rating scheme for homes in the United Kingdom. It is the domestic version of the Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method BREEAM, which can also be applied to a variety of non-residential buildings....
and the Code for Sustainable Homes
Code for Sustainable Homes
The Code for Sustainable Homes is an environmental impact rating system for housing in England and Wales, setting new standards for energy efficiency and sustainability which are not mandatory under current building regulations but represent important developments towards limiting the...
), and acoustic and air-leakage testing.
Criticism
The NHBC was criticised on a 2010 edition of the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
consumer television programme Watchdog for failing to repair homes due to incorrect surveying of problem properties by relevant professionals, and thus failing to either compensate owners financially or fix any problems promptly, for new build properties under their warranty.
See also
- EcoHomesEcoHomesEcoHomes is an environmental rating scheme for homes in the United Kingdom. It is the domestic version of the Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method BREEAM, which can also be applied to a variety of non-residential buildings....
- Energy efficiency in British housingEnergy efficiency in British housingDomestic housing in the United Kingdom presents a possible opportunity for achieving the 20% overall cut in UK carbon dioxide emissions targeted by the Government for 2010...
- Construction Industry CouncilConstruction Industry CouncilThe Construction Industry Council is the representative body for the professional bodies, research organizations and specialist business associations in the construction industry in the United Kingdom...
- Gas protectionGas protectionGas protection is a technical solution to prevent or to control gas penetration into properties. The control of gas migration is normally achieved by blocking the pathway or removing the source of the gas generation...