Customer satisfaction levels in the housebuilding industry have surged in the past year despite the challenges of the recession according to the latest HBF annual survey. The proportion of customers fairly or very satisfied with their new home leapt by 10 points to 88% while 88% also said they would recommend their builder to a friend – seen as the acid test in customer satisfaction surveys and up from 76% last year. The survey – carried out by NHBC – seeks the views of customers of 15 of the largest housebuilders, each building more than 500 homes a year, and covers the 12 months to September 2009.<br> <br> In all 16,741 questionnaires were returned, a 50.9% response rate. The results are translated into a star rating system for the housebuilders, rated on quality of the home and recommendation to a friend. Every participant improved their star rating on home quality year on year – except McCarthy and Stone which was already a five star housebuilder from last year and maintained that standard. The firm is joined as a five star builder by Barratt, Cala, Crest Nicholson, Galliford Try, Lovell and Morris. Similarly with “friend recommendation”, McCarthy and Stone maintained its …