On German TV you see regular reports and documentaries about people who built their own home, or got a builder in to build their home – and all the awful things that go wrong. A friend of mine who is about to move into a new flat had a draught test done (the door is pasted over and air is pumped into the building at high pressure – you immediately see any sources of draughts). The building was riddled with holes!

The builder is now very upset, the new owners are upset … but I wonder. Why, in a country which builds some of the best houses in the world, is their no certification body that a) sets standards for new homes and b) certifies builders.

We have it in the UK. The NHBC (see logo below, source: NHBC website) had their stamp of approval on the people who built my first home in England. At the slightest problem the builder jumped a mile and solved it – they knew if they didn’t they’d risk their quality certification.

Setting the standards in the UK and placing their stamp of approval on builders

It’s time the TÜV or some quality body in Germany did the same thing! There’s money to be made – and a lot of hassle could be saved.