<p><span>Persimmon has launched a home buyer’s “retention” initiative today (March 21) which it says will further improve customer care.</span></p> <p><span>Under the initiative, the volume housebuilder will write into its standard contract that 1.5% of the total home value - which it says will equate to around 6% of the build fabric costs - can be withheld by the buyer's solicitor “until any faults identified at the point of key release are resolved”. </span></p> <p><span>Persimmon said that the average amount withheld, based on its current selling prices, would be around £3,600 per home. </span></p> <p><span>It added that it had instructed its legal advisers to work on its new standard contract, and expected the policy to be “fully in place” by the end of June.</span></p> <p><span>The initiative is the latest in a series of measures to “assure high finish standards and improve customer care”. </span></p> <p><span>Persimmon’s ceo, Dave Jenkinson, said: “Persimmon is listening hard to all of its stakeholders and we hear the message that we need to continue to raise our game in customer care. </span></p> <p><span>“The initiatives we have already announced, including the action taken in the new year to deliver greater accuracy of anticipated moving in dates by adopting …