Home Warranty Insurance Claims

1. Review Your Home Warranty Insurance Policy

Before making a claim, check your policy to confirm:

• What types of defects are covered
• What is excluded
• Coverage limits
• Key expiry dates (2-year, 5-year, 10-year periods)
• Who your warranty provider and builder are

If you don’t have a copy of your policy, contact your warranty provider.

If you’re unsure who your builder or warranty provider is, search your address in the New Homes Registry

2. Send Written Notice of the Defect

If the issue may be covered and is still within the coverage period, you must provide written notice to both:

• Your home warranty insurance provider
• Your licensed residential builder

Do this as soon as possible and before coverage expires.

Check your warranty provider’s website for instructions and required forms.

Important: Protect Your Rights

Repairs offered by a builder without written notice to the warranty provider do not count as a formal claim. If:

• The repair does not solve the problem, or

• The warranty provider was never told,

  …it may be too late to make a claim once coverage expires.

Repairs completed under the warranty also come with a repair warranty (one year or until the end of the original coverage period—whichever is later).

Tip:  Home warranty insurance only covers defects listed in your policy. Your builder may work with you directly to fix issues that are not covered by warranty insurance.

3. Prevent Further Damage

Homeowners must take reasonable steps to stop the problem from getting worse. Coverage may be reduced or denied if damage increases because no action was taken.

Before making any repairs:

• Check with the warranty provider to ensure your response won’t affect coverage.
• Work done by someone other than the builder or warranty provider may limit your claim

4. Making a Claim in a Strata (Condo/Townhome)

If you live in a strata:

• You must report defects inside your unit
• The strata corporation must report defects in the common property

Tip: Before each expiry date, carefully inspect both your unit and any common areas covered under the warranty.

5. What to Expect After You Submit a Claim

Warranty providers must handle claims as detailed in the Regulation Schedule 2 - Mandatory Warranty Conditions.

After you submit your claim

The warranty provider must:

• Contact you to review the claim
• Arrange an inspection if needed (you must allow reasonable access with advance notice)
• Ask for documents or information needed to assess the issue

If your claim is approved

• Repairs must be done in a timely manner
• Weather, material availability, and labour needs may affect timing

Note: Warranty providers often rely on their contractual relationship with a builder to carry out repairs. However, this must not delay the warranty provider’s obligation to ensure repairs are completed promptly.

If your claim is denied

The warranty provider must give you:

• A written decision
• Reasons for the denial
• Information about dispute resolution options

After repairs are completed

• You will receive a copy of the repair specifications
• A letter confirming the date the repairs were completed
• Information about the repair warranty

6. Repair Warranty Coverage

Repairs or replacements must follow the BC Building Code and industry standards.

Work completed under warranty is covered for defects in materials and labour until the later of:

• One year after the repair is completed, or
• The end of the original coverage period

Tip: Keep copies of all claim documents, repair letters, and inspection notes.

7. Warranty Claims History for Previously Owned Homes

If you're not the first owner, you may not know what claims were made before.

You can request a copy of the home’s warranty claims history from the warranty provider. This can help you understand:

• What repairs have already been made
• How much policy coverage has been used
• What coverage may still be available

To get in touch with your warranty insurance provider, consult our list of those approved in B.C.

8. Disputes and Concerns

If you’re not satisfied with how your claim was handled, visit our Warranty Claim Disputes page to learn your options.

9. Resources

Still have questions? These guides offer in-depth information:

Guide to Home Warranty Insurance in British Columbia

This guide explains what’s covered under the mandatory 2-5-10 coverage, how to file a claim if you discover a defect, and what steps to take to protect your rights.

Residential Construction Performance Guide

This guide explains how warranty providers may assess common defects. It does not replace your insurance policy or the Homeowner Protection Act. Always refer to your policy for exact coverage details.