Watchdog launches probe into UK house-building industry

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) today launched an investigation into the UK’s £20bn (€30bn) a year house-building sector.

The consumer affairs watchdog will scrutinise the competition and consumer issues in the house-building industry to ensure both the supply and standard of new homes are giving buyers a fair deal.

The OFT said it had been monitoring the house-building market following recommendations in the Government’s landmark 2004 Barker housing supply review and had found cause for concern the sector was “not working well for consumers”.