Enter the Awards
Entries for 2026 are now open!
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Review the Categories
Explore the range of awards to find the categories that best fit your achievements.
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Submit your entry
Gather your supporting testimonials and data, and submit your entry via our Judgify digital platform.
Ready to enter the WhatHouse? Awards 2026?
We recommend downloading the Awards Prospectus first to review the categories, criteria and entry requirements.
Once you’re ready, begin your submission and take the first step towards showcasing your work on a national stage.
Entry Prospectus
To get a copy of our awards prospectus please complete the form below.
Our Award Categories
Click on any award for more details
No entry, or fee, is required for this category, as the award will be made exclusively from entries received in the Best Housebuilder categories 2,3,4 & 5. This is our top award and the most coveted prize in British housebuilding – the ultimate new homes accolade. It is important that all housebuilders enter either category 2, 3, 4, or 5, depending on size, to be eligible for the Housebuilder of the Year award.
(please state number)
As well as the quality, design and range of the houses built, all aspects of the housebuilder’s performance will be assessed, including: the influence of senior management, staff values, recruitment & training, sustainability initiatives, social impact, marketing, homebuying assistance schemes, aftersales service and customer care. This award is only open to companies building less than 50 homes a year.
This is an opportunity for brand-new companies having recently completed their first developments, or established small, niche housebuilders. Do tell your story and the origins of the business.
All entrants in this category will automatically be considered for the Housebuilder of the Year award – the industry’s most prestigious accolade.
(please state number)
As well as the quality, design and range of the houses built, all aspects of the housebuilder’s performance will be assessed, including: the influence of senior management, staff values, recruitment & training, sustainability initiatives, social impact, marketing, homebuying assistance schemes, aftersales service and customer care. This award is only open to companies building more than 50 and less than 250 homes a year.
All entrants in this category will automatically be considered for the Housebuilder of the Year award – the industry’s most prestigious accolade.
(please state number)
As well as the quality, design and range of the houses built, all aspects of the housebuilder’s performance will be assessed, including: the influence of senior management, staff values, recruitment & training, sustainability initiatives, social impact, marketing, homebuying assistance schemes, aftersales service and customer care. This award is only open to companies building more than 250 and less than 1000 homes a year.
All entrants in this category will automatically be considered for the Housebuilder of the Year award – the industry’s most prestigious accolade.
(please state number)
As well as the quality, design and range of the houses built, all aspects of the housebuilder’s performance will be assessed, including: the influence of senior management, staff values, recruitment & training, sustainability initiatives, social impact, marketing, homebuying assistance schemes, aftersales service and customer care. This award is only open to companies building at least 1,000 homes a year.
All entrants in this category will automatically be considered for the Housebuilder of the Year award – the industry’s most prestigious accolade.
This category recognises the significant growth of build-to-rent schemes, with judges looking for the best schemes in this increasingly significant and influential asset class. This is for developers operating across the sector’s ecosystem, whether they are delivering tailored apartments, single-family housing, senior living, or purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA).
Entries should showcase both the development, the property management companies and other key partners and stakeholders, highlighting the importance of design, location, amenities, value-for-money, interactive social hubs, working space and leisure facilities, as well as dedicated onsite services to support the needs of the tenants.
Cutting-edge technology and design and innovative product and lifestyle partnerships will be considered, together with all aspects of the scheme’s performance, leading the way in the BTR sector.
An award for housebuilders creating the best overall schemes in the later-living/retirement homes sector. Judges will be looking at the overall package of home support and care provided for residents at the development. Design and product quality, including accessibility, adaptability and innovative use of technology to support residents, will be considered, as well as the quality of additional services and leisure amenities in delivering outstanding homes and care facilities.
The developer’s overall commitment and contribution to the promotion and enhancement of retirement living is also important.
This category covers age-restricted housing, sheltered accommodation, assisted senior living and retirement villages and developments, offering a wide range of care options to residents.
With ever-increasing mortgage criteria to meet, the judges are looking at starter homes – either standalone developments or within wider housing schemes – that not only offer quality, value-for-money properties for entry-level budgets but also provide accessible pathways to homeownership.
Shared ownership plays a crucial role in this, offering first-time buyers a more affordable route onto the housing ladder. The category also welcomes entries from affordable housing schemes led by housing associations, shared equity initiatives, mixed tenure projects, and joint ventures between the private and public sectors.
The Best House award is for middle-market houses with that something extra – a high-quality family home of exceptional standard. Between the first-time buyer and the big-money executive lies a mass new-homes market. What judges are looking for is a house that combines comfortable family living at a realistic price, but with the edge to lift it above its competitors. Not too big and not too small, both affordable and aspirational.
Judges want to see evidence of a minimum of three of the house types, either on one scheme or across multiple developments. Please include price, size and locations. This is not an award for a high-end, bespoke, one-off house.
This may be a block of one-bedroom apartments at a budget price for first-time buyers, a luxury waterfront apartment scheme, or a stylish high-rise development. Judges will be looking at the internal layout, elevational treatments and architectural innovation, while considering the relative price range and the overall quality of the scheme.
Submissions should also outline how the development responds to its location, enhances residents’ lifestyles and delivers a sense of community, while achieving high standards of sustainability, practicality and long-term liveability.
This category recognises outstanding residential developments that successfully transform dated, redundant or derelict buildings into high-quality new homes. It celebrates schemes that unlock the potential of existing structures or neglected sites, breathing new life into them through imaginative design, sensitive restoration and intelligent adaptation. Judges will be looking for projects that demonstrate how challenging or overlooked buildings can be reinvented to deliver desirable, sustainable homes.
Entries should showcase excellence in design, planning and execution, highlighting how the development respects or enhances the character of the original structure or its surroundings while meeting modern standards of living.
Before and after images are key.
This category recognises the most outstanding new-homes development overall, celebrating schemes that demonstrate excellence across design, construction, landscaping and delivery. Judges will be looking for developments that set a benchmark for quality, combining strong architecture, well-planned homes and an attractive living environment to create a place where people genuinely want to live.
This is not an award for luxury, but an award for a mass-market development lifted above the ordinary by the quality of its component parts, be it geared to first-time buyers, the middle market, or a mix of properties across the price range.
This category is for top-of-the-range developments of executive homes, with an unswerving commitment to design, finish, materials, technology, landscaping, security, sustainability and customer care, delivering an elevated living experience.
Premium homes, be they high-end riverside apartments, or a stylish collection of new-build mansions, set in luxurious surroundings with exceptional amenities. Developments, with an uncompromising commitment to excellence, should offer value for money, albeit in an exalted price range.
This new category celebrates projects that combine exceptional collaboration between partners and stakeholders with innovative mixed-use development. We are looking for schemes that deliver outstanding outcomes for communities, blending residential, commercial and cultural spaces, while demonstrating creativity, sustainability and social impact.
Projects should show how integration works to create vibrant, inclusive and future-ready places, highlighting, where applicable, partnerships between housebuilders, local authorities, housing associations and community groups.
This category will reward housebuilders developing schemes that are an exemplary response to cutting carbon emissions and enhancing biodiversity, be they urban projects or a rural housing development. The development must be innovative and demonstrate sustainability from land acquisition through planning, design, supply chain, materials and building techniques. Winning projects will not only be energy-efficient but must support the environment, as well as have positive social impact. The housebuilder should also demonstrate a culture of sustainability throughout its business and supply chain.
This category recognises exceptional residential developments that play a transformative role in the regeneration of a neighbourhood, town or city area. It celebrates schemes that replace or revitalise underused, neglected or obsolete sites to create thriving new communities and high-quality homes. Judges will be looking for developments that demonstrate vision, strong placemaking and a meaningful contribution to the wider regeneration of the local area.
Entries should highlight how the scheme has improved its surroundings through thoughtful master planning, high standards of design and the creation of attractive, sustainable places to live. Submissions should outline the challenges of the original site, the regeneration strategy and the outcomes achieved, including benefits for residents, the local community and the long-term vitality of the area.
This category recognises outstanding interior design within a new home, celebrating spaces that combine creativity, functionality and exceptional attention to detail. Judges will be looking for interiors that enhance the overall living experience, demonstrating a clear design vision through layout, materials, lighting, colour and furnishings. Successful entries will show how the interior design complements the architecture of the home while creating a welcoming, practical and beautifully resolved environment.
Entries should highlight the design concept, the key features that define the scheme and how the interior responds to the needs of modern living. Submissions should also demonstrate quality of execution, thoughtful use of space and a cohesive approach that elevates the home beyond standard specification to deliver a distinctive and memorable interior.
This category recognises outstanding architectural design that creates a striking external appearance for a residential development. Judges will be looking for schemes where the exterior design demonstrates creativity, strong visual identity and attention to detail, with materials, proportions and architectural features working together to produce an attractive and enduring result.
Entries should show how the exterior design responds to its setting while enhancing the overall character of the development and the surrounding area. Submissions should highlight the design concept, the choice and quality of materials, and how elements such as façade treatment and detailing contribute to the overall impact and appeal of the homes.
This category embraces every aspect of placemaking and public realm, including the vital commitment to biodiversity across both urban and rural landscapes.
Judges are looking for housing developments amid wider communities that support and enhance nature-based solutions, showcasing renewable energy infrastructure, conservation and ecology, working in partnership with experts and other key stakeholders.
As well as the natural environment, entrants must also champion civic pride and public open space, be it through cultural attractions or community projects and show a commitment to the health and wellbeing of residents.
This category is open to housebuilders, large and small, but also progressive landed estates across the country, with residential schemes, partnerships with housebuilders, as part of the estate’s wider business portfolio – developers as custodians and legacy builders, seeking long-term collaboration and legacy to meet housing need across all tenures.
This award recognises housebuilders that have successfully implemented innovative technologies to improve the design, construction, sales, or management of new homes. The judges will be looking for practical innovations that deliver measurable improvements in efficiency, sustainability, build quality and operational performance.
Entries should demonstrate how technology has been applied to solve real challenges. They can relate to a single development, multiple schemes, or a company-wide initiative, with a clear description of the technology or innovation implemented, the challenge or opportunity that prompted the innovation, details of how the technology was integrated, evidence of measurable outcomes or improvements, and details of partners, suppliers, or technology providers, as applicable.
This award celebrates outstanding marketing campaigns that have successfully promoted new-home developments or housebuilding brands. Judges will be looking for creative, well-executed campaigns that demonstrate clear strategic thinking and deliver measurable results.
Housebuilders’ entries may include print, digital, social media, PR, brand campaigns, or multichannel marketing initiatives. Submissions should highlight campaign objectives and target audience, strategic approach and key messaging, channels and media used, creative concept and execution, and evidence of results against objectives.
This award recognises housebuilders that deliver exceptional customer experience throughout the homebuying journey – from first enquiry through to aftercare – with judges looking for companies that place customers at the heart of their business and can demonstrate a culture of service excellence.
Entries may cover a specific development, regional division, or company-wide customer experience strategy. Submissions should include an overview of the customer journey and experience strategy, initiatives designed to enhance customer satisfaction, training or support provided to staff, use of customer insight or feedback to improve services, and evidence of measurable customer outcomes.
Got Questions?
Our FAQs page has everything you need to make your entry smooth and stress-free. Take a look before you submit to make sure your entry is spot on.