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What does Buildmark cover?

Below is an overview of the Buildmark cover we currently provide.  Please check the terms of your own policy documents to find out what cover, limitations and exceptions apply for your home. 

Before completion

The builder is responsible to complete the home to the NHBC Standards.  After exchange of contracts if, because of insolvency or fraud, your builder does not start or complete building your new home, we will reimburse your deposit or arrange for the home to be completed in line with the NHBC Standards.

We will pay up to a maximum of 10% of the purchase price or £100,000, whichever is less. 

During the first 2 years

The builder is responsible for putting right any defects or damage caused by their failure to build to the NHBC Standards.

What is the builder liable for?

• The builder should put right, within a reasonable time and at their own expense, any defect or damage caused to your home which is notified to them during the relevant notification period.  
• If you have to move out of your home so that work can be done, the builder, by prior arrangement, should meet any reasonable costs you incur for removal, storage and appropriate alternative accommodation. 
• If the builder has been notified of a defect or damage during this period of cover, then they remain liable to put it right even after this period has expired.

What is the builder not liable for?

• Wear and tear or deterioration caused by neglect or failure to carry out maintenance
• Dampness, condensation or shrinkage not caused by a defect 
• Anything specifically excluded by an endorsement on your Buildmark insurance certificate
• Anything caused by alterations or extensions to your home 
• Anything resulting from compliance with written instructions given by or on behalf of the home's first owner in respect of design, materials or workmanship 
• Any cost or expense greater than that necessary to carry out a workmanlike repair of the defect or damage 
• Any items falling outside the definition of home (as defined in your policy document). 

• If you are not the first owner, anything which you knew about when you acquired the home and which resulted in a reduction in the purchase price you paid or which was taken into account in any other arrangement.

There is no excess or minimum claim value for this part of the policy.

If there is a dispute between you and your builder about work to be done, then we may be able to offer our Resolution Service to assist in resolving disputes about defects or damage relating to the NHBC Standards.

If your builder cannot meet their obligations to rectify defects because they are insolvent or they don't comply with an NHBC resolution report, or if they don't pay an arbitration award or court judgement against them relating to their obligations under Buildmark, we provide cover for their obligations.

During years 3 to 10

We provide insurance to cover the cost of putting right any damage caused by defects in specified parts of the home, usually the structural and weatherproofing parts.  This will start two years after the date on the Buildmark insurance certificate.

What parts of the home are covered?

These parts of the home are covered:

• Foundations
• Load-bearing walls
• Non load-bearing partition walls
• Wet-applied wall plaster
• External render and external vertical tile hanging
• Load-bearing parts of the roof
• Roof coverings
• Ceilings
• Load-bearing parts of the floors
• Staircases and internal floor decking and screeds where these fail to support normal loads
• Retaining walls necessary for the structural stability of the house, bungalow, flat or maisonette, its garage or other permanent outbuilding
• Double-glazing or triple-glazing panes to external windows and doors
• Below-ground drainage for which the owner is responsible

We will cover the cost of putting right defects to a flue or chimney if it causes a danger to the physical health and safety of the occupants.

You are also covered for alternative accomodation costs if you need to move out of your home while repair work is being done.

Minimum claim value

Unlike most insurers, we operate a minimum claim value rather than a policy excess for Buildmark.  This means that, in order to be valid, the cost of your claim must exceed the minimum claim value. This is the amount specified in Section 3 of your policy, increased to allow for the effects of inflation.  To find out the minimum claim value that currently applies to your policy, please call us on 0844 633 1000 and ask for 'Claims'.

Building Regulations

If your builder appointed NHBC Building Control Services Ltd or an Approved Inspector registered with NHBC to inspect their site for compliance with Building Regulations, your Buildmark policy will also cover you against certain breaches of some Building Regulations if they pose a danger to the health and safety of the occupants.  Your insurance certificate will show if this cover applies.

Contaminated land

There may be additional cover under Buildmark if you have been, or are likely to be, served with a Statutory Notice about contamination of the land that your home is built on.  The contamination of the land must have existed at the time of completion of your home.  Other terms and conditions apply, so to find out more, please call us on 0844 633 1000 and ask for 'Claims'.

What's not covered?

Buildmark does not cover general wear and tear, condensation, normal shrinkage, cosmetic damage or damage arising from failure to maintain the property.  You should refer to your policy document for information on all the exclusions and limitations that apply.

Full policy document

For full details of the Buildmark policy, please read this policy document:

Current Buildmark policy document

This particular sample document applies to new homes registered from 01 April 2012. If you need a copy of a policy for a home registered before this date, find your policy document.

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