AQW 39394/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 29/01/2026
Answered On Date: 09/02/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any responsibilities that Trading Standards currently holds, in relation to (i) protections; and (ii) quality standards, for new build homes.

Answer:

My Department’s Trading Standards Service has local enforcement responsibilities for consumer protection under the Estate Agents Act 1979 and the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA); however, neither of these Acts deals with quality standards.

The DMCCA prohibits traders, including estate agents, builders and property developers, from providing false or misleading information to consumers, omitting material information, engaging in aggressive practices or breaching the requirements of professional diligence. The Trading Standards Service is responsible for enforcing the DMCCA here.

My Department does not have responsibility for quality standards in building new homes. This is primarily enforced through Building Regulations, overseen by the District Councils’ Building Control services and supplemented by industry schemes like the New Homes Quality Board (NHQB) and 10-year warranty providers such as the New Homes Building Council (NHBC).