Key takeaways
New build homes come with 10-year warranties from developers to protect buyers from defects and structural issues
Years 1-2 cover most defects from poor workmanship; years 3-10 only cover major structural problems
You can't choose your warranty provider - NHBC Buildmark covers 70-80% of the market with other options available
You still need buildings insurance as warranties don't cover fire, flood, theft or weather damage - only construction defects
Whether you’ve just moved into your new build home or you’re thinking about buying one, understanding the warranty that comes with your home is important.
One of the advantages of buying a new build is that it typically comes with a 10-year warranty. When buying a new build home, you’d expect fewer issues, but this isn’t always the case, the warranty gives you peace of mind as a buyer.
Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about new build warranties.
A new build warranty is essentially an insurance policy that protects you if problems arise with your newly built home. It’s taken out by the developer but designed to protect you as the buyer, ensuring that any defects caused by poor workmanship, faulty materials, or design issues will be fixed without you having to pay.
Most mortgage lenders require new build properties to have a 10-year structural warranty before they’ll approve your loan, so you’ll find one comes standard with virtually every new build home.
The warranty exists to protect you, the buyer (and the mortgage lender) because building a home involves hundreds of different trades and processes, and sometimes things can go wrong.
You might see new build warranties called different names, but they’re all a similar product: