This is the eighth survey of new home buyers and covers the 12 months from October 2011 to September 2012. The survey was launched in response to recommendations in the Barker Review of housing in 2004. It is a self-completion online and postal survey of new home owners who bought from sixteen large home builders (building over 300 private new homes per annum) and five medium and small builders (building less than 300 private new homes per annum).

Of the 53,270 questionnaires sent, 29,330 were returned, a response rate of 55.1% – an outstanding response for this type of survey.

The statistical methodology used in the analysis of these survey results has been audited and approved by the Statistical Services Centre, University of Reading. The methodology is the same as in the very first survey, published in 2006, for which Ipsos MORI acted as a consultant. The industry results presented on the previous page are weighted by builder to take account of the number of eligible homes they have built in the year. Individual company results are not weighted.

HBF Star Ratings have been calculated for each participating builder, based upon the audited percentage score for a ‘Yes’ response to the survey question ‘Would you recommend your builder to a friend?’ The Star Ratings are calculated as follows:

5 Star Rating 90%+
4 Star Rating 80% – 89.9%
3 Star Rating 70% – 79.9%
2 Star Rating 60% – 69.9%
1 Star Rating 50% – 59.9%