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What is NHBC & what does NHBC cover?

NHBC stands for the National House Building Council, which is an independent organisation that provides warranties and insurance for new build homes. 

The purpose of an NHBC warranty is to protect homeowners from potential issues, such as leaky pipes, cracks in plastering or poorly fitted windows. It does this by setting standard requirements for the quality of construction and materials used in new build homes. The NHBC also carries out regular inspections on development sites to ensure these standards are being met. 

What does NHBC cover?

NHBC warranties are standardised, which means that you’ll be able to claim for anything on their Buildmark cover list when you own an eligible new build home. The NHBC will even provide money for alternative accommodation if there is extensive work that needs to be carried out. Here are a few key issues that NHBC warranties cover: 

  • Plumbing: The NHBC warranty covers plumbing issues such as disconnected pipes or incorrectly angled guttering. These are considered initial issues, and your builder is obligated to fix them without charging you for the cost, as long as they’re reported within the first two years of the warranty period. 
  • Structural defects: Issues such as significant cracks in the plaster are covered, as they can be a sign of structural issues with your home. The builder is obligated to fix these under the NHBC warranty; however, it doesn’t cover minor cracks that are simply a sign of cosmetic damage. 
  • Windows and doors: The NHBC warranty covers windows that are affected by structural issues or misplacement. This includes jammed windows, incorrectly installed glazing or deterioration caused by builder error. 

What isn’t covered by NHBC?

Some aspects of homeownership can’t be covered by a warranty, including damage that may happen as a result of external factors like weather. You can protect yourself from this kind of damage by taking out a separate house insurance policy, especially if you’re in an area frequently affected by bad weather. 

Here are a few issues not covered by the NHBC: 

  • Minor cosmetic damage: Small cracks in the plaster frequently occur as a sign of a new build ‘settling’. Since they can be patched up with filler, they’re not considered a serious enough problem to invoke the warranty. 
  • Unrelated damage: The NHBC won’t cover damage caused by fire and weather conditions, like high winds and flooding. These problems are unrelated to the quality of the builder’s work and they’ll need to be insured separately. 
  • Home improvements: If you make any structural or cosmetic changes to the property, they won’t be covered by the NHBC. This is because these changes were made after the NHBC’s final property inspection. 

Full information about what is and isn’t covered by the NHBC warranty and insurance can be found in your Buildmark policy documents.

How long does an NHBC inspection take?

The NHBC inspects a home multiple times before it provides a warranty. These inspections are carried out at key stages of building:

  • When the foundations have been put in
  • When the plumbing is installed
  • Prior to plastering
  • One final time before the keys are handed over to the buyer

Each inspection takes up to four hours to complete, allowing the inspectors to take their time confirming the quality of your home. Because of this, the warranty is based on absolute confidence that the property is built to the highest standards. 

How long does an NHBC warranty last?

The NHBC follows the standard structure of new build warranties, providing two years of initial cover followed by eight years of insurance. As a result, an NHBC warranty will cover your home for a total of ten years. During the first two years, your builder will be required to fix initial issues while, in the following eight years, you’ll need to claim against your insurance. 

Where can you find your NHBC certificate?

You should receive your Buildmark policy documents and NHBC certificate when you complete the purchase of your new home. They may be filed in a welcome pack given to you by your solicitor or conveyancer, alongside the rest of your home’s paperwork – including land tax documents and planning blueprints – so check amongst these. 

If you still haven’t received them within four weeks of moving in, contact your solicitor or conveyancer. 

How long does it take to get a replacement NHBC certificate?

If you have misplaced your NHBC certificate, you can apply for a replacement through the NHBC website – have key information ready, such as your property address and date of purchase, in order to speed up this process. 

You can also use their website to access your Buildmark policy documents online.

Looking for a new build under NHBC warranty?

We provide an NHBC or a Local Authority Building Control (LABC) warranty on every new build Bloor home. That means that, when you buy with Bloor, your investment will have been thoroughly inspected and built to the highest standards, so you can feel confident in the quality and reliability of your investment.