Justin Lee Anderson said he has been locked in a three-year battle to get a list of snags sorted at his family home in Wallyford.

The author is now lobbying for the Scottish Government to roll out a housing ombudsman to empower homeowners in similar situations.

He said: “There is a presumption of competence given to housebuilders which is just wrong and allows them to get away with shockingly poor standards without any real consequences.”

Mr Anderson added: “Planning committees can’t legally refuse a planning application from a builder as long as that application meets regulations.”

“There is no consideration of the builder’s record of competence. So they can build as many terrible houses as they like and keep getting planning permission for more.”

The housebuilder, Persimmon, expressed regret over the situation with homeowner Justin, who moved into his property in 2019.

A spokesperson commented: “We are disappointed that Mr Anderson did not receive the level of service we strive to provide and we apologise for the inconvenience he experienced.

“While we have not been made aware of any issues with the property since 2022, we are committed to addressing any concerns brought to our attention.”