Tory MP slams ‘con-artist’ Persimmon over Help to Buy faults
A Conservative MP has branded property developer Persimmon a group of “crooks, cowboys and con-artists” after faults emerged in Help to Buy homes built by the firm.
Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions this afternoon Robert Halfon MP said he had met with constituents living in homes built by Persimmon that were “shoddily built, with severe damp and crumbling walls”.
Read more: Persimmon apologises over Help to Buy faults
Prime minister Theresa May said the government expected “all developers to build homes to a high-quality standard”.
Persimmon was forced to apologise to customers earlier this week following a Channel 4 investigation that found one of its new build homes had a total of 295 faults, including fire doors that did not shut, leaky sinks and faulty waste connections.
The developer makes an average of £66,000 profit for every Help to Buy home it sells, a return of 30 per cent, which is higher than any of its competitors.
Former chief executive Jeff Fairburn was slammed after it emerged that he pocketed a £75m bonus which was boosted by the company’s lucrative involvement with the government scheme.
Read more: Persimmon revenues drop as fewer homes completed
In response to the investigation the housebuilding giant, which constructs one in seven of the homes built under the government scheme, said: “We fully accept that on too many occasions in the past we have fallen short.”
City PM has contacted Persimmon for comment.