A Builder’s Warranty insurance scheme is a legal requirement under State/Territory law, in all states except Tasmania, for builders carrying out domestic building contracts.
The intent of the scheme is to offer some consumer protections to homeowners to compensate for faulty workmanship or incomplete work, in the event that the builder dies, disappears or becomes insolvent and is unable to finish incomplete work.
If you are a licensed builder, you may need Builders Warranty Insurance to protect your clients, and it is YOUR OBLIGATION to arrange this insurance before undertaking applicable projects. If you own a home and are having work done to your home by a builder including renovations or an extension, you will need Builders Warranty Insurance for projects as follows:
New South Wales ($20,000 or more)
Western Australia ($20,000 or more)
ACT ($12,000 or more)
Victoria ($12,000 or more)
South Australia Northern Territory ($12,000 or more)
Queensland ($3,300 or more)
There are exemptions to the requirement for builders to obtain Builders Warranty in each State. In New South Wales, this may be due to the following:
Residential Works that are under $20,000
Obtaining an Owner-Builder Permit from NSW Fair Trading for certain projects
As otherwise defined within the relevant Act or Regulations for example, ‘demolition work’.
Feel free to contact our Builders Warranty specialist Account Managers, Charlie and Vanessa, for an obligation-free chat about your Builders Warranty requirements.
Charlie Tame: 0447 735 680 & Vanessa Stokes: 0490 842 980
Builders Warranty Insurance
Some additional information can be found on the following links relevant to NSW:
iCare Home Building Compensation Fund -The Home Building Compensation Fund (hbcf) | icare (nsw.gov.au))
NSW Fair Trading - Insurance | NSW Fair Trading
State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA regulates iCare) - Home building compensation cover - SIRA (nsw.gov.au)
Home Building Act and Home Building Regulations: HOME BUILDING ACT 1989 - As at 4 October 2022 - Act 147 of 1989 (austlii.edu.au) and HOME BUILDING REGULATION 2014 (austlii.edu.au)
General Insurance Requirements
For many of our approximately 600 builders, we not only advise and service their Builder’s Warranty Requirements, but we also understand their business intimately so that we can guide and advise them in relation to their general insurance requirements as well.
Some examples of the common general insurance requirements for our construction clients are:
Construction Insurance to cover your projects or design work
Public Liability
Professional Indemnity
General Business
Commercial Motor
Personal Motor, Home, Contents, Landlords, Valuables
Emerging Risks such as Cyber Cover, Management Liability
Marine and Transit
Other specialist products and requirements according to your needs
Feel free to contact Faith for an obligation-free chat about your current insurance requirements and to find out how we can assist you.
Faith Hall: 02 8713 1800
Builders Warranty Services are offered via our Licencee – Savill Hicks Corp Pty Ltd (AFSL 240867, ABN 96 009 392 125)