We've introduced a new Home Warranty Scheme that provides broader protection for homeowners if problems arise with building work.
The new Home Warranty Scheme for building contracts over $20,000 and 3 storeys or less will now be administered by the powerful new Building and Plumbing Commission.
Cover available includes lost deposits, incomplete building work, and non-compliant or defective building work.
The previous Domestic Building Insurance model protected consumers, but they could only access insurance as a last resort under very limited circumstances: when their builder became insolvent, disappeared or died.
The Home Warranty Scheme ensures consumers get access to assistance when they need it most, allowing them to make a claim when a building issue is first identified, so they won’t have to face out-of-pocket costs for fixing defects.
When does the Home Warranty Scheme apply?
The Home Warranty Scheme commenced on 1 July 2026, replacing Domestic Building Insurance for new eligible domestic building work.
Home Warranty applies to eligible domestic building contracts signed on or after 1 July 2026.
If your building work is already covered by a Domestic Building Insurance policy issued before 1 July 2026, your cover remains in place with the insurer who issued it. It does not transfer to the Home Warranty Scheme.
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