What the QLD 7-Year Building Warranty Means for Buyers

The building process of a new home is a huge undertaking that involves months of work. Like with any construction work, the sheer number of factors involved in the building work can sometimes result in unexpected issues with the quality of the build, depending on who you work with.

For those looking to buy or build a new home in QLD, the QBCC Home Warranty Scheme provides more reassurance by covering any potential issues that may arise with a newly built property. With 7 years of building warranty, buyers can have greater confidence in the quality and value of their newly purchased home.

What is building warranty in QLD?

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act (QBCC) Home Warranty Scheme was put in place by the QLD Government to protect homeowners from the risks of defective building work regarding their new home or building project. 

Under this building warranty scheme, any building work valued over $3,300 will be covered by home warranty insurance that is paid for by the builder. In the event of any defective work (defined as work that is unsatisfactory, flawed, subpar, and/or faulty) in the property, homeowners will be able to submit a claim to have the relevant issues addressed at no additional cost.

In Queensland, building warranty covers new home builds for a period of 6 years, 6 months from the date when work according to a signed contract begins. However, claims for defective work must be lodged within a specific time period after the defect has been noticed. 

• Claims regarding structural defects of the property must be lodged within 3 months of noticing the defect. Examples of structural defects include cracks or shifting in the structural elements of the building such as the foundation, walls, roofs, or support beams.
• Claims regarding non-structural defects of the property must be lodged within 7 months of the day the work is completed. Non-structural defects include issues such as cracked or peeling paint, improper seals on windows or doors, as well as plumbing and electrical issues. 

Benefits of building warranty QLD

Building warranty offers huge advantages for individuals looking to buy a new home or build one:

Financial coverage 

The substantial costs associated with buying or building a home often place a financial burden on buyers. The coverage of building warranty means that buyers will not have to worry about being liable for any additional expenses that may be incurred to resolve issues in the home — these costs will be covered during the 7-year building warranty period. This is especially important for structural issues, as the building work required to fix these issues can be extensive and expensive.

Assurance of quality

The building warranty provides buyers will more confidence in the quality of newly built homes as builders of the project will be required to adhere to the strict quality standards of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission. This also goes a long way in ensuring the value of the built homes against unexpected future issues.

Legal protection

Disputes between homeowners and builders regarding the quality of the home build are not uncommon. Building warranty helps to protect buyers by giving them an avenue to claim for repairs or rectification of defective work. It provides homeowners with legal and financial protection if the builder fails to meet the agreed standards or if major structural or non-structural defects arise.

As award-winning home builders in Townsville, John Munro Builder is pleased to offer quality new home builds to future homeowners in QLD that are covered under the QBCC Home Warranty Scheme. With over 20 years of delivering beautiful and functional homes for the Townsville community, we are committed to helping you build the home of your dreams.