What is a Structural Warranty?
As a self-builder, your project won’t automatically be covered by the same warranty you’d receive with a new-build, but that doesn’t mean you don’t want similar protection. This is where a Structural Warranty can be valuable.
In this set of Frequently Asked Questions, we look at what a Structural Warranty is designed to do, how you might benefit from having one, and why you may need one.
Given what a complex subject Self-Build insurance can be, we have provided two guides that we hope you’ll find useful:
The SelfBuild Insurance guide to a stress-free self-build. In this guide, we look at a typical self-build project from planning and dreaming right through to living in the property, and ways that you can make this journey a little bit less stressful.
The SelfBuild Insurance 5 minute guide to our products. In this guide, we set out in straightforward terms the policies that we offer, and how they are designed to protect self-builders and their projects.
This information is provided as a guide only, and if you have any doubts or questions, please give our expert team a ring on 0800 230 0225.
Full details of our Terms & Conditions, Limits, Excesses and Policy Exclusions can be found in our Policy Wordings. SelfBuild Insurance doesn’t offer advice relating to insurance, and you need to ensure that insurance you choose meets your demands and needs.
Q. What is a Structural Warranty?
Q. Do I need a Structural Warranty?
Q. When should I buy a Structural Warranty?
Q. Is your Structural Warranty approved by lenders?
Q. Can I buy a Structural Warranty policy online?
Q. Will anyone be required to visit my site?
Q. Who are your Structural Warranty providers?
Q. What is a Structural Warranty?
A. A Structural Warranty policy is designed to protect you, and future owners of the property (if you sell within the ten year period of cover) against the cost of complete or partial rebuilding or rectifying work to the house as a result of defective design, workmanship or materials. In addition to this, the policy is designed to provide similar cover for the drainage system and waterproof envelope of the house.
Our Structural Warranty policy provides wider protection than an Architects Certificate. It’s also designed to meet the requirements of mortgage lenders who will expect a policy to be in place prior to lending for a self-build project.
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Q. Do I need a Structural Warranty?
A. The law does not require you to have a Structural Warranty. You’re likely to find that mortgage lenders require a Structural Warranty to be in place before they’ll lend against a self-build project, or they’ll want a commitment that one will be in place at the conclusion of the build.
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Q. When should I buy a Structural Warranty?
A. Some mortgage lenders will require a Structural Warranty to be in place before they agree to lend to you, or release funds, while some will stipulate that a Structural Warranty policy must be in force before completion of build. Speak to your proposed mortgage lender to understand their requirements.
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Q. Is your Structural Warranty approved by lenders?
A. The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has a list of approved Structural Warranty providers. Our providers , Build Zone and Premier Guarantee, are approved providers of Structural Warranty policies for the majority of the UK’s top mortgage providers and lenders. This list may be found on the published list of Lender Approvals.
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Q. Can I buy a Structural Warranty policy online?
A. Our Structural Warranty policy is currently only available over the phone. Please contact us on 0800 230 0225, and one of our team will help you.
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Q. Will anyone be required to visit my site?
A. It is likely that at some point in your project, a representative of our Structural Warranty provider will be required to visit your self-build site, however this will be discussed and agreed with you in advance of such a visit taking place.
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Q. Who are your Structural Warranty providers?
A. Our Structural Warranty policy providers are Build Zone and Premier Guarantee who are approved by many of the countries leading mortgage lenders.
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