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Watch nowWhat does Buildmark Cover?
Deposit protection if your builder becomes insolvent, 2 years warranty cover from your builder and insurance cover from NHBC until the end of the policy
What is Buildmark?
Buildmark is our ten-year warranty and insurance cover for new-build homes. The cover is split into different sections providing protection for your deposit after exchange of contracts, a builder warranty for two years after legal completion and then insurance against certain defects after the warranty period until the end of the policy.
Please read your policy schedule and policy booklet for details of the cover and the financial limits that apply to your new home.
Useful info
Overview of Buildmark
Deposit
protection
Insurance cover is provided if the amount you have paid to the builder in accordance with the contract, cannot be recovered from the builder or any other party due to the builder becoming insolvent during the period of insolvency cover as shown in the policy schedule.
Builder warranty period
The builder warranty period is usually two years from the start date of the policy shown on the policy certificate. During this period, the builder, not NHBC, is responsible for rectifying problems arising from the builder's failure to meet NHBC Technical Requirements. If the builder fails to fulfil their obligations, we may be able to assist under our Resolution service.
To the end of Buildmark cover
From the end of the builder warranty period until the policy expires (typically 8 years), insurance cover is provided for specific parts of the property. For full details of the protection provided against structural defects where your homes has not been built to our Technical Requirements or where there are issues with contaminated land, please refer to your policy booklet.
What is
covered?
The Buildmark policy provides protection for particular types of problems with your property, where it has not been built to NHBC Technical Requirements, including but not limited to foundations and structure.
Your policy document sets out the parts of your home that are covered, the conditions, limits and exclusions that apply.
What is
not covered?
There are some things that are not covered by Buildmark. These can include but are not limited to: wear and tear, neglect or damage caused by fire or smoke. Also excluded are items or incidents covered by other insurances such as buildings or contents insurance or by warranties such as on domestic appliances or boilers.
Minimum claim value
Buildmark does not have a policy excess so, if your claim is valid and meets the minimum claim value, you won't have to pay anything towards the cost. Should the claim value be lower than the minimum value, the claim will be declined. Your minimum claim value is stated on your policy schedule document.
How does Buildmark work?
Select which stage of the home-buying process you are in below to read more information about Buildmark.
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Insurance protection
Buildmark provides insurance protection if, due to the builder's insolvency, you lose your deposit or the builder does not complete the home. Please refer to your policy schedule and policy booklet for more information.
If you don't have your policy information, please contact 0344 633 1000.
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Builder warranty
This is the builder warranty period. In NHBC we sometimes refer to this as "section 2". Your builder will provide this initial warranty and agrees to repair defects that do not comply with NHBC's Technical Requirements. This would not include wear and tear or maintenance issues.
Resolution service
We provide an independent resolution service should the builder not meet their obligations under Buildmark.
Before we can consider offering our Resolution service, you must have:
- notified the builder of the items you want rectifying within the builder liability period
- allowed them a reasonable period of time and access to complete the necessary work.
- have exhausted the builder's complaint process and received a final written response from the builder.
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.
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In this period of the policy, (in NHBC we sometimes refer to this as "section 3") cover is provided where there is damage caused to specified parts of the property because the builder did not comply to NHBC's Technical Requirements.
The damage or issue must have occurred and be notified to NHBC during this period of the policy.
The parts of the property that are typically covered:
- roofs
- flues and chimneys
- external walls to the property (i.e. house, bungalow)
- internal stairs
- glazing (Double or triple glazing panes to outside windows and doors)
- foundations.
Some parts are not covered such as plumbing, electrics and gardens.
Please note this is for guidance only. Please refer to your policy schedule and policy booklet for full details of the cover provided.
Contaminated land cover
We also provide insurance cover for contaminated land if you receive a statutory notice for your land or a statutory notice could be issued because of the condition of your land.
Building Regulations cover
This cover will only apply if we provided the building control service for your property. If we did, this will be stated on the Buildmark certificate for your property.
The cover applies if there is an imminent danger to someone’s physical health or safety because the builder failed to meet certain parts of the Building Regulations when building the main structure of your property.
We ceased offering Building Regulation cover from 1 October 2019.
The above is for guidance only. Please refer to your policy schedule and policy booklet for the full details of the cover provided on your property.
NOTE: The information above is for guidance only.
If you are not the first owner of your home, the financial limits of your policy may already have been partly or fully used up by claims from earlier owners. Please contact NHBC or your conveyancer to ensure that you have adequate cover remaining.
Find your Buildmark policy documents
Homeowner resources and information
Useful guides
Read our guides about common issues with new homes and about making a claim.
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FAQs
Check out our list of FAQs for homeowners or people looking to buy a new-build or newly-converted home.
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Make a complaint
We are sorry if you are unhappy with the service you have received. Please see more about our complaints process and how to make a complaint.
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Consumer codes
Industry-led schemes which gives protection and rights to the purchasers of new homes, ensuring that new home buyers are treated fairly and are fully informed about their purchase.
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