Sunderland-based DVP and Hertfordshire firm Overton Brothers Building Contractors have been struck off the NHBC's register as part of the council's drive to improve its image with consumers.
DVP managing director Ken Payne claimed the NHBC struck the firm off before an appeal had been heard.
He said: "They sent us a letter saying they were planning to cancel our registration in January. We sent a letter back asking them to instigate their appeals procedure. They haven't had the courtesy to write back to us yet. The first I heard was when a reporter rang me to say we had been struck off." He added: "The problem with the NHBC is not over workmanship or anything like that. It is a complex financial issue." The NHBC said DVP was expelled for failing to provide a financial bond as security for customers.
An NHBC spokeswoman said: "DVP was deleted from the register on 19 November 1998, but we sent a warning letter in July. They had three months to appeal and they didn't. The decision stands." Payne said he would consult lawyers over his next move.
Overton Brothers is also disputing its expulsion. The NHBC claimed that the company was struck off for bad service and misuse of the council's logo.
It was also disciplined for poor-quality work carried out through an associated firm, Countryside Driveways.
The council claimed that Overton was misusing its logo by using it in connection with the construction of driveways on existing properties.
Owner Julian Overton rejected the NHBC's claims, and said he would be taking legal advice. "This is rubbish. We never once said to any customers that the driveway work was covered by the NHBC. We had a separate guarantee for that. I have never had any complaints to the NHBC about any of our housebuilding work." NHBC chief executive Imtiaz Farookhi said: "Such firms bring the NHBC and the housebuilding industry into disrepute and they need to understand just how determined we are to stamp out shoddy workmanship and bad service." Farookhi said the council would continue to publicise the names of errant firms to the media, trading standards authorities and insurers.
