What is a Structural Warranty?
Sometimes known as Latent Defects Insurance, a structural warranty is a construction insurance policy that protects you against structural defects in a new build, conversion, or renovated building.
This means that if your building develops problems due to poor workmanship or materials, the structural warranty will provide cover, ensuring you receive financial compensation to help cover the costs of structural damage and repairs.
The Structural Warranty usually lasts 10-12 years from the date on the Building Control Completion Certificate, whether it’s for social housing, mixed-use projects or commercial sites.
Explore more about structural warranties with our dedicated guide.
Do I Need a Structural Warranty?
In most cases, a structural warranty is required or strongly recommended for new build, conversion, and development projects. This is particularly the case where the property will be sold or occupied by a third party.
Most UK mortgage lenders expect an approved 10-year structural warranty to be in place before they will release funds or approve a purchase. This makes it a key requirement for developers and property investors looking to ensure smooth transactions.
A structural warranty also provides long-term protection against latent defects that may not become apparent until years after construction is complete. Without appropriate cover, responsibility for repairs can fall directly on the property owner or developer.
Why Choose ABC+ as Building Warranty Providers?
Our 10-year structural building warranty insurance offers the most secure protection for construction projects. Our warranty provides in-depth protection against latent defects in building materials, workmanship, and the design of your construction.
Here are just some of the reasons why you should choose ABC+ Warranty as structural and building warranty providers:
- 30+ years’ experience as a trusted UK structural warranty provider, with cover backed by AXA Insurance
- A fast and efficient certification process, with quotes and cover issued in hours, not weeks
- No hidden costs, with no membership fees or holding bonds required
- Flexible cover options, including 6-year PCCs with the ability to upgrade to a 10-year structural warranty when needed
- Accepted by major UK mortgage lenders. This ensures your project will meet lending requirements
Get an indicative QUICK QUOTE in minutes, or call 0161 928 8804 to discuss your building project.
Types of Developments Covered
Whether you require standard structural defects insurance for a residential or commercial building, or something more bespoke like a conversion or custom build, we’ll do our best to adapt our ABC+ Warranty to suit your needs and provide protection.
As a trusted structural warranty insurance provider in the UK, we offer a range of policy types for property developers.
Professional Consultants Certificate (CML Certificate)
ABC+ Warranty also offer 6-Year Professional Consultants Certificates (PCC) as an alternative to a 10-Year Structural Warranty insurance. Formerly known as a CML Certificate (Council of Mortgage Lenders), a merger of trade bodies formed UK Finance in 2017. All of our architects’ certificates and warranties comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook, and you can find our approved lender list.
We can also carry out independent Building Control inspections from commencement to completion of your build, ensuring that every component and method used complies with Building Regulations for quality and safety standards. This also helps to reduce the risk of potentially costly defects developing.
Of course, we also offer 6-Year Professional Consultants Certificates (PCC) as an alternative to a 10-Year Structural Warranty insurance. Formerly known as a CML Certificate (Council of Mortgage Lenders), a merger of trade bodies formed UK Finance in 2017. All of our architects’ certificates and warranties comply with the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook, and you can find our approved lender list.
We can also carry out independent Building Control inspections from commencement to completion of your build, ensuring that every component and method used complies with Building Regulations for quality and safety standards. This also helps to reduce the risk of potentially costly defects developing.
Bespoke Survey and Building Control Support for Your Construction Project
Bespoke Survey and Building Control Support for Your Construction Project
As one of the UK’s leading warranty providers, we understand how challenging and stressful a construction project can be, which is why we’re always on hand to help.
Thanks to our years of experience in the construction industry and our fantastic customer service, we’ve built up a portfolio of high-quality technical inspectors familiar with local authority building control regulations, who can help facilitate surveys and inspections for your development projects to make sure everything is running smoothly.
By choosing an ABC+ 10-year structural building warranty (also known as latent defects insurance), you’ll benefit from:
If you have already applied for building regulations approval from your local authority, we can arrange for a schedule of technical audits to be conducted during your residential development project, alongside the local authority’s building control inspector.
Frequently Asked Questions
A section 38 Agreement starts initially with the local authority preparing a draft agreement for the developer, incorporating the proposed works. The developer and their bond provider (surety) then sign the agreement before it is formally completed by the Council.
Section 38 agreements are designed to ensure that roads and associated infrastructure are built to an acceptable standard and can be adopted by the local authority once completed. They also provide protection in the event of developer or contractor failure, such as substandard workmanship or insolvency before completion or adoption of the works.
A Sewer Bond can also be a requirement by a local authority. A Section 104 agreement is a legal arrangement between a developer (or other owner of a private sewer) and the relevant water authority. It sets out the terms under which the sewer must be constructed to an agreed standard and maintained for a specified period. Once these conditions are met, the water authority will adopt the sewer, and it will become part of the public sewer network.
ABC+ Warranty is our warranty product, and it offers some of the best value for money on the market. We do not require membership fees or holding bonds, and we can issue our certifications within hours, not weeks, giving you comprehensive protection as soon as possible.
Our 6-Year CML Certificate, known as a UK Finance Professional Consultants Certificate, gives you the option to upgrade to a 10-Year Building Warranty – helping you to save money with a PCC until a lender requires you to have a Structural Warranty.
Through key inspections, our chartered surveyors perform their due diligence to ensure that latent structural defects won’t occur down the line on completed properties. However, even the best builders can’t always guarantee that nothing will happen, so it’s worth upgrading to a 10-year Structural Warranty.
Many approved lenders accept our PCC and 10-year Structural Warranty for a range of development types, so you can rest assured that your paperwork will be in order. Get an indicative QUICK QUOTE in minutes, or call 0161 928 8804 to discuss your building project.
When you apply through our website, you can either submit our quick quote form to receive an indicative quotation as quickly as possible or fill out our longer application form with more details. You can also apply for a quick PCC quote.
The more information you give us about your building project, the more accurate your prospective quote will be. As we don’t use brokers, the process of receiving a quote from us is faster than many other providers who rely on middlemen – and we can offer lower prices without those additional fees.
Of course, the process may take longer if we require more information about your building proposal, or should we need to visit your site to conduct an inspection. Whatever the case may be, we always offer a fair and honest quote, so you’re sure to get a competitive rate with a speedy turnaround.
According to Part 5 Section 144–145 of the Building Safety Act 2022, a new build home warranty is now required by law for any developer building new residences. This means that developers must provide an appropriate building warranty to the purchaser to legally sell the home.
This applies to anyone ‘undertaking or commissioning’ the ‘construction or conversion’ of a building to create one or more dwellings. If you’re carrying out a self-build or conversion project for your own use, you may not be obligated to take out a warranty unless you intend to sell it later on – but it’s still advisable to set up a building warranty from the outset for your own financial protection.
Mortgage providers will also be keeping abreast of the new law, so you can expect a 15-year building warranty to be a definite requirement for obtaining a mortgage for your new build or converted residence, regardless of which lender you go to.
If you have any questions about our structural building warranties, please call us on 0161 928 8804 to speak to our team, or email your query to info@architectscertificate.co.uk and we will reply as soon as possible with more information.
Sometimes known as Latent Defects Insurance, it is a construction insurance policy that protects you against structural defects in a new build, conversion, or renovated building.
This means that if your building develops problems due to poor workmanship or materials, the structural warranty will provide cover, ensuring you receive financial compensation to help cover the costs of structural damage and repairs.
The Structural Warranty usually lasts 10-12 years from the date on the Building Control Completion Certificate, whether it’s for social housing, mixed-use projects or commercial sites.
Under the Building Safety Act 2022, the liability period will be extended to 15 years for claims relating to faulty design or workmanship on new buildings that have rendered the property unsafe for human use or habitation as a result of latent defects.
Most mortgage lenders will not release funds without an approved Structural Warranty in place, to protect their investment as much as yours. This can delay property sales and purchases, so you should make sure a suitable Building Warranty is in place as early as possible.
Structural defects can become apparent at any time in the years after construction finishes. It’s best to have at least 10 years of precautionary cover to help you with the expense of fixing such issues.
Even if the buyer of a new build pays in cash, it’s still advisable to get a warranty in place.
This is because if they ever come to sell the property, the new buyer may be reliant on a mortgage to fund the purchase, and if there’s no structural warranty in place, it could cause delays or result in the purchase falling through.
Having a structural warranty provides reassurance to lenders that the property is financially covered for any defects and reduces the risk of them losing money if problems are discovered.
These building warranties are usually taken out by the builders or developers to cover the new owners.
Whilst all might seem well immediately following the completion of your building work, structural defects can be made evident at any time in the years after the construction work finishes. It’s therefore best to have at least 10 years of structural warranty cover to assist with the expense of fixing any issues.
Whilst there is no requirement by law to obtain a structural warranty, the majority of mortgage lenders won’t sign off on a mortgage without one.
This will cause a delay in the sale of the property. Additionally, not having a structural warranty in place can make it difficult for you to sell a house that’s under 10 years old.
A Structural Warranty covers defects in the building and design of a construction project, as well as any defects uncovered in the materials used in the build.
An insurance provider will usually carry out scheduled checks of the build at different stages to inspect for any defects.
While the stages when these technical audits are carried out can differ, they’re usually done during the laying of the foundations, the building of the main structure, the pre-felt and batten of the roof, the pre-plaster of any interior walls, and, finally, once the project is complete.
Inspectors will be looking for any signs of degradation (such as cracks in the walls or structural issues with the foundation) to ensure the structure will be safe.
Here’s what a structural warranty covers:
- Costs to fully or partially rebuild a building as a result of structural defects, and the costs to fix any defects within a property that are attributed to defects in the design and build of a property, or any defects discovered in the materials used for the project
- Costs to rectify damage caused by water as a result of problems with the design, build or materials used in a project
- Costs associated with fixing issues caused as a result of the drainage system built as part of the construction project
- Defects insurance for a period of up to 24 months after practical completion
- Structural insurance after 24 months have elapsed from practical completion
- Alternative accommodation costs
- Fees
- Removal of debris
A structural warranty can also cover (depending on the individual provider and policy):
- Deposit protection in the event the developer goes bankrupt
- The cost of removing contaminated land from the development plot
- Cover in case the property (or parts of it) were not built in proper compliance with building regulations
Depending on the provider and level of cover provided, most will provide higher levels of cover during the first few years of the warranty.
This is because, during the first two years, the developer or builder is responsible for fixing any defects. After this, the financial cover will still be available, but the buyer will be responsible for sourcing the work.
It may also be required that you have the property inspected by an insurer regularly to retain the warranty during the life cycle.
Getting a Structural Warranty for your project will cover you against a number of issues that could arise in the future, such as:
- Costs to fully or partially rebuild a building as a result of structural defects, and the costs to fix any defects within a property that are attributed to defects in the design and build of a property, or any defects discovered in the materials used for the projects
- Costs to rectify damage caused by water as a result of problems with the design, build or materials used in a project
- Costs associated with fixing issues caused as a result of the drainage system built as part of the construction project
- Insolvency of the developer (if requested at the quotation stage)
- Defects insurance for a period of up to 24 months after practical completion
- Structural insurance after 24 month have elapsed from practical completion
- Contaminated land cover
- Alternative accommodation costs
- Fees
- Removal of debris
If you would like to find out more information about what structural warranty includes read our guide here.
As well as this it can also be used to cover the following (depending on the individual provider and policy):
- Deposit protection in the event the developer goes bankrupt
- The cost of removing contaminated land from the development plot
- Cover in case the property (or parts of it) were not built in proper compliance with buildings regulations
