Housing Associations

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Warranty

'Buildmark Choice' is NHBC's 10-year warranty and insurance cover which is used for 80% of the UK's social housing. It is specifically designed to protect Housing Associations and other Registered Social Landlords (RSLs), from the risk of structural and major defect failure for their build projects including new build, conversions and renovations, multiple occupancy projects, foyer schemes, student accommodation and mixed-use sites.

Our whole approach is to help you manage your technical building risk from pre-planning to post-completion. Selecting Buildmark Choice will do exactly that, providing not only the insurance cover you need, but also a comprehensive risk management package for our Housing Association and other RSL customers.  Further information on Buildmark Choice is available below including a specimen warranty policy:

Build

  • Contractor insolvency cover during the build stage. 
  • Rigorous key stage inspections during the build process to check adherence to NHBC's Technical Standards (and Building Regulations if NHBC's building control service is used). 
  • Sustainability services providing consultancy, assessments, training and research.
  • Provision of health and safety consultancy and training services designed to improve health and safety standards both onsite and in the office.
  • Buildmark Choice warranty issued following successful completion of final handover inspection, includes up to 2 years cover for contractor defect liability and contractor insolvency.

Handover

  • 'Buildmark Choice' is NHBC's  warranty and insurance cover, available for up to 12 years,  covering over 80% of all UK's new build social housing developments. It is specifically designed to protect Housing Associations (HAs) and other Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) build projects including new build, conversions and renovations, multiple occupancy projects, foyer schemes, student accommodation and mixed-use sites. This comprehensive warranty provides extensive cover for
    • contractor defect liability and insolvency for up to 2 years after completion
    • building failures cover for latent defects significantly reducing the need for collateral warranties
    • loss of rent
    • independent Resolution service during the first 2 years after completion to resolve disputes about defects or damage with contractors
    • additional cover where NHBC has carried out building control
    • contaminated land, flue or chimney defects, covered as standard for up to at least 10 years
  • no excess or minimum claim value during the first 2 years 
  • comprehensive definition of 'housing units' including boundary walls which are not part of the structure 
  • options to:
    • cover contractor insolvency during the build phase as an alternative for performance bonds
    • extend the policy by 2 years
    • include professional fees

Further information on Buildmark Choice is available below, including a specimen Buildmark Choice  policy:

Why do Registered Social Landlords value Buildmark Choice?

Why choose Buildmark Choice as your affordable housing warranty?

What is covered by Buildmark Choice?

How much does it cost?

Who can apply?

Is there any guidance for tenants on looking after their new home?

A specimen Buildmark Choice policy document details  the cover currently provided and  is effective for homes built on sites registered with NHBC on or after 1 April 2007. For sites registered before that date, please call us providing details of the policy number to find out the details of the cover provided.  Please call 0844 633 1000 and ask for 'Customer Services' (Monday to Friday 08.30 - 17.30), or email us.

The first 2 years after the property is completed - Contractor's Repair Cover

There is no excess or minimum claim value during the first 2 years.

The Contractor's Repair Cover lasts for two years from the date of the insurance certificate. During this period the contractor is obliged to put right Defects and Damage which result from a failure to comply with NHBC Technical Standards. If the contractor fails to comply with his obligations, NHBC will itself arrange to put right those Defects and Damage.

During this two-year period NHBC also offers a Resolution Service to help settle disputes about Defects or Damage between the Contractor and the Registered Social Landlord. Following its investigation NHBC will issue a report informing both parties of any work that the Contractor must carry out to fulfil his obligations under this part of the cover.

Years 3-10 Home damage cover

The Home Damage Cover normally lasts for 8 years after the Contractor's Repair Cover (but can be extended to 10 years depending on the options taken). Home Damage Cover includes a standard excess of £650 indexed, but also gives Registered Social Landlords the option to have larger excesses. It provides indemnity against Damage resulting from a breach of NHBC Technical Standards in the following parts of a home:

  • Foundations 
  • Load-bearing walls 
  • Non load-bearing partition walls 
  • Wet-applied wall plaster 
  • External render and vertical tile hanging 
  • Load-bearing parts of the roof 
  • Roof coverings
  • Ceilings
  • Load-bearing parts of the floors
  • Screeds, staircases, and internal floor decking where these fail to support normal loads
  • Retaining walls necessary for the structural stability of the home or other building on the Development
  • Double- or triple-glazing panes to external windows and doors
  • Below ground drainage (for both new and existing drainage)
  • Defective chimneys and flues causing a danger to the health and safety of occupants Plus increased protection with the addition of alternative accommodation and loss of rent cover

Contaminated land cover

Cover against the cost of cleaning up contamination of the land on which the home is built, if a local authority or the environment agency takes action under environmental law.

Additional cover in years 3 to 10 where NHBC's subsidiary  carried out the building control

If you choose NHBC Building Control Services Limited to undertake building control, your customers will have additional insurance cover for breaches of specified Building Regulations which cause a danger to the physical health and safety of the occupants of the home. Relates to the following specified Building Regulations

  • Structure
  • Fire safety
  • Site preparation and resistance to moisture
  • Hygiene
  • Drainage and waste disposal
  • Heat-producing appliances
  • Protection from  falling, collision and impact
  • Glazing - safety in relation to impact, opening and cleaning

Options

Choice of additional optional cover. You can choose to combine the cover described above with a combination of the following additional options:

  1. Contractor's insolvency before the development is completed (limited to 10% of the Contract Price).
  2. Professional Fees
  3. Additional 2 years' cover

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