Your new build is protected
As of February 1, 2014, every new home built in Alberta is protected under warranty. Alberta’s New Home Buyer Protection Act encourages even higher quality standards, making sure your new home stands the test of time.
Find out what types of homes are covered:
Homes covered include:
Single family homes
Duplexes
Multi-family homes
Condominiums
Manufactured homes
Recreational properties
Single-family homes
Duplexes
Multi-family homes
Condominiums
Manufactured homes
Recreational properties
Full list of homes:
- Single family homes
- Duplexes
- Multi-family homes
- Condominiums
- Manufactured homes
- Recreational properties
If you have any questions or concerns about your new home’s warranty, talk to your builder or warranty provider.
What’s my coverage?
At minimum, your new home’s warranty covers 1 year for labour and materials, 2 years for delivery and distribution systems, 5 years for building envelope protection, and 10 years for major structural components.
Find out what’s covered:
1 YRThis takes care of finishes throughout the home, including any defects in flooring, paint or trim.
2 YRSThis primarily covers defects in labour and materials related to heating, plumbing and electrical systems.
5 YRSBuilding envelope means the exterior shell of the home, including the roof and walls. Two additional years of coverage are available.
10 YRSThis covers the key structural components of your home, including its frame and foundation.
Coverage is as easy as...
1
Labour & Materials
2
Distribution Systems
5
Building Envelope
10
Structure
Warranty Providers
In Alberta, there are currently seven warranty providers that builders may partner with for your coverage:
- Blanket Home Warranty Ltd. - WBI Home Warranty Ltd. / Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada (RSA)
- Millennium Insurance Corporation
- National Home Warranty Group Inc. - Aviva Canada Inc.
- Progressive Home Warranty Solutions Inc. - Aviva Canada Inc.
- Progressive Home Warranty Solutions Inc. - Echelon Insurance
- The Alberta New Home Warranty Program
- Travelers Insurance Company of Canada
- WBI Home Warranty Ltd. - Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada (RSA)
Talk to your builder about their warranty provider of choice and click the links above for more about each of them.
What’s everyone’s role?
Protecting your investment takes a team.
Your role as a HOMEOWNER
Your first role is research. Get to know your potential builder’s record, including years in business and references. Familiarize yourself with your warranty provider, key warranty dates, and steps to take if you ever need to make a claim.
Once your home is built, you’re responsible for basic maintenance and upkeep, such as cleaning out eavestroughs and changing furnace filters. You’re also responsible for maintaining appropriate grading with any new landscaping work.
Your BUILDER & WARRANTY PROVIDER’S role
Builders are responsible for partnering with a warranty provider, becoming an authorized user of the online home registry, and entering all new construction projects into the registry. They are your primary point of contact during the construction of your home. They are also responsible for making sure the house is built to the standards set out in the Alberta Building Code.
Warranty Providers are responsible for creating policies and responding to claims.
The GOVERNMENT’S role
Alberta’s New Home Buyer Protection Act mandates and regulates new home warranties in the province. The Government of Alberta ensures legislation is complied with and tracks warranties on new homes. Alberta Municipal Affairs provides tools to municipalities to ensure warranty coverage is in place before new construction permits are issued. The government enforces penalties against builders, warranty providers and others not complying with the Act—up to $100,000 for first offences and up to $500,000 for subsequent offences.
Are you building your own home?
If you are the owner-builder constructing your own home to live in, you have two options. You can get home warranty coverage for your home or you can apply for an owner-builder authorization. An authorization will allow you to build your home without a warranty. If you sell your house within 10 years, you will need to obtain the remaining warranty coverage for your buyer. Read more.
What’s the process?
There’s comfort in knowing every step.
With Alberta’s quality builders, most people will never need to make a warranty claim. However, if you do experience an issue that may lead to a claim, here’s what you should do:
1
Warranty Active?
2
Talk to your builder
3
Contact your provider
More information and guidance about Alberta's New Home Buyer Protection Act is available in the Construction Performance Guide for New Home Warranty in Alberta. The Guide summarizes key aspects of the legislation and catalogs issues commonly discovered in the first few years of the life of a home. The Guide indicates whether an issue can be defined as a defect under the legislation and explains the actions homeowners can expect warranty providers and builders to take to resolve those defects.
What’s the public registry?
Warranty info is just a click away.
Alberta’s warranty program includes an easy-to-use online public registry. Builders are required to input warranty information for every new home they build as of February 1, 2014.
If your home has a warranty, you can access warranty information by typing in your address. This helps you track key dates and find contact information for your warranty provider.
People shopping for a new home can use the registry to find out if the home has a warranty and how much coverage remains. It is also useful for realtors, lenders, and municipalities.
Contact
Still have questions?
Visit Alberta Municipal Affairs’ extensive Q & A section to find your answer.
You may also contact Municipal Affairs toll-free at 1-866-421-6929 or click to share your comments.