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The builder's responsibility

The builder warranty period is usually two years from the start date of the policy shown on your policy certificate.

During this period, the builder, not NHBC, is responsible for rectifying problems arising from the builder's failure to meet NHBC requirements.

Contact the builder as soon as you reasonably can (but always within the builder warranty period) and keep a record of what you said, who you wrote to or spoke to, and when.

If the builder fails to fulfil their obligations, we may be able to assist under our resolution service.

Requesting our resolution service

If a problem arises between you and your builder during the builder warranty period, we may be able to help through our resolution service. Before requesting this, you must have gone through the builder's entire complaints process and received their final written response. When you contact us, please provide us with the list of issues you reported to your builder and their final written response to your complaint.

Watch the video to learn about: 

  • what to do if your builder fails to respond
  • when to contact NHBC
  • what we can assess under the resolution service.

Our resolution service

Before we can consider offering our resolution service, you must have:

  • notified the builder of the items you want rectifying within the builder warranty period
  • allowed them a reasonable period of time and access to complete the necessary work, and
  • have gone through the entire builder's complaint process and received a final written response from the builder (within 30 days of sending a formal complaint).

If the steps above have been followed and you're not happy with the builder's final decision or haven't received a response within 30 days, you can request our resolution service.

There may be circumstances where our resolution service isn't suitable. If that is the case, we will explain why. If you believe your builder is insolvent, please contact us for further advice.

Request our resolution service

Builder resolution templates

Document templates you can use to contact your builder are available below.

Hands wearing gloves measuring on a plank of wood

The NHBC guarantee

We guarantee the builder’s obligations under the builder warranty. This means we will step in if the builder fails to comply with their obligations under the builder warranty. Please refer to your policy documents for full details.

Your policy booklet and certificate

Your conveyancer should have provided you with an NHBC Buildmark policy booklet and policy certificate which explains your cover.

View other stages of the Buildmark cover

Buildmark is our 10-year warranty and insurance cover for new build homes. The cover is split into different sections. Insolvency cover after exchange of contracts, a builder warranty and NHBC guarantee for two years after completion and then eight years of insurance cover for damage caused by defects in certain parts of the home.