New Construction | Warranty
Checking the Builder Before You Buy
This takes a few minutes on a public registry and it is the difference between assuming a home has warranty coverage and knowing it does.
The short answer
BC Housing maintains a public registry of licensed residential builders and registered new homes. Check the specific address and the specific builder there. A warranty mentioned in a listing is a marketing claim; the registry is the record.
Why the listing is not enough
A listing saying a home has 2-5-10 coverage is a description written to sell it. That does not make it wrong, and it does not make it verified either.
The registry is the authoritative record of which builders are licensed and which homes are registered for warranty. It is public and it is free.
What to look up
Search the address to confirm the home is registered, and search the builder to confirm the licence. Both matter: a licensed builder who did not register this home leaves you without coverage on this home.
If either search comes back empty, that is a question to put in writing before you remove subjects rather than something to shrug at.
- → The specific address, to confirm the home is registered for warranty
- → The builder's licence, and whether it is current
- → Which warranty provider issued the policy, so you know who to claim from
- → The date coverage started, since it sets every deadline
The categories with no warranty
Some homes do not require warranty insurance. Owner-built homes are the significant one: there the owner builder carries responsibility for defects for ten years after occupancy, and a buyer has to pursue them directly rather than an insurer.
Homes on reserve lands are exempt, though builders may provide coverage voluntarily. Manufactured homes and certain building types are also outside the requirement. If a home might be in one of these categories, establish it explicitly.
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Common questions
How do I check if a builder is licensed in BC?
Search the BC Housing new homes registry, which is public and free. Look up both the builder's licence and the specific address, because a licensed builder who did not register a particular home leaves that home without coverage.
What if the home is owner-built?
Owner-built homes are exempt from the warranty requirement. The owner builder is responsible for defects for ten years after occupancy, and as a buyer you would have to pursue them directly rather than making an insurance claim. That is a materially different position.
The listing says it has warranty. Is that enough?
No. A listing is a marketing document. The registry is the record. Checking takes a few minutes and it is the only way to know rather than assume.
Where these figures come from
- BC Housing, new homes registry and warranty
Confirms a builder's licence and a home's 2-5-10 warranty coverage.
Checked
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