Part 5Other provision about safety, standards etc
New homes ombudsman scheme
I1136Establishment of the new homes ombudsman scheme
1
The Secretary of State must make arrangements for there to be a scheme, to be known as the “new homes ombudsman scheme”, which meets the conditions in section 137(1).
2
Examples of arrangements under subsection (1) are arrangements—
a
with another person under which that other person agrees to establish and maintain the new homes ombudsman scheme in accordance with the terms of the arrangements,
b
under which the new homes ombudsman scheme is established and maintained by (or on behalf of) the Secretary of State, or
c
for the maintenance of the new homes ombudsman scheme, in accordance with the terms of the arrangements, by a person other than the person who established it.
3
The Secretary of State may—
a
give financial assistance (by way of grant, loan, guarantee or in any other form) to a person for the establishment or maintenance of the new homes ombudsman scheme;
b
make payments to such a person (otherwise than as financial assistance) in accordance with arrangements under subsection (1).
4
Before making arrangements under subsection (1), the Secretary of State must consult—
a
the Welsh Ministers,
b
the Scottish Ministers, and
c
the relevant Northern Ireland department.
5
In this section, “the relevant Northern Ireland department” means—
a
the Northern Ireland department designated for the purposes of this section by the First Minister and deputy First Minister acting jointly, or
b
failing such a designation, the Executive Office in Northern Ireland.