By law, when you build a new property in Victoria you must get Owner Builder Warranty Insurance (or Builder's Indemnity Insurance) before you sell the property. The purpose of the insurance is to protect the home buyer. The warranty is a way to ensure building work is done properly and in accordance with contract plans and specifications. Building materials must be new - if they're not, this must be stated in the contract. In addition, all building materials must be of good quality and fit for purpose.

The insurance company will request a Defect Report of the building before providing any coverage. This is where you'll need an experienced and trained Building Warranty Inspector. Expert inspectors know just what to look for. They focus on all the critical details, using an extensive checklist to ensure the building complies with the Building Codes and Standards of Australia.

A Defect Report is sometimes called a Building Completion Report or a Warranty Report. You cannot sell your house without this report. Essentially, the report identifies structural and safety issues and whether the building can be safely occupied. The report also addresses cosmetic defects such as bad paint jobs or surface scratches.

The building contractor will be required to rectify any structural defective building work if less than 6 years and 3 months have passed since the completion of the building work. For non-structural building work, 12 months after the completion of the building work is the cut-off period.

It's important to schedule a Building Warranty Inspection at about the 11-month mark after your Building Handover Inspection. This will ensure that you remain within the 12 month warranty period for non-structural building defects.

Contact Australian Property & Building Inspections (APBI) Melbourne today for a professional and reliable Building Warranty Inspection. We inspect across Melbourne, Geelong, the Mornington Peninsula and throughout Regional Victoria. We offer fixed prices with no hidden costs on our fast and comprehensive inspections. Book an inspection today, we're ready and willing to inspect your property!