Six years and two years on a NSW build

In short: How the Home Building Act warranty periods work and why the category is argued.

The two periods

Six years for major defects and two for everything else, from completion, under the Home Building Act 1989.

In general terms, a fault in a major element rendering the home uninhabitable or unfit for its purpose, or risking collapse.

The category decides which clock applies, and no builder is neutral about whether something gets called minor.

Have a list in writing before two years elapse, while the shorter period remains available.

By naming the element and the requirement, so the category is argued on facts.

Written by the Owner Inspections team from inspections carried out in Leppington. Licensed building practitioners, NSW Fair Trading licence 366177C.

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Questions Leppington owners ask about this

When does it start?

At completion, generally your handover date. Confirm it against your contract.

Will writing in stop the period running?

It establishes that the item was present inside the period, and that is what counts down the track.

Is it worth inspecting at the two year point?

For many owners yes, landing before the shorter warranty expires while defects are still surfacing.

What if the builder has wound up?

That is what the Home Building Compensation Fund via icare covers, on its own terms.