New Home Warranties for Buyers and Homeowners in British Columbia
Great homes are built on strong foundations
Buying a new home is a big decision and one of the biggest investments you’ll make. Before signing the agreement of purchase and sale, be sure your new home is protected. Travelers Canada is a leader in warranty products for newly built homes. Only builders that meet our underwriting criteria are approved.
Travelers Canada’s new home warranty policies are underwritten by St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company (Canada Branch), and are only offered in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.
Home warranty coverage in British Columbia
To be eligible for a new home warranty, new homes must be new construction, or at least 75% renovated, and built by an approved builder who is registered with both Travelers Canada and the New Home Buyer Protection Office for homes in your province.
We register builders based on their track record, technical expertise, financial capacity and after-sales customer service. Only builders that meet our underwriting criteria are approved.
Read more in our home warranties brochure and home warranty coverage information sheet for homes in British Columbia.
Learn more about home warranties in your province
2-5-10 year warranty coverage
The Homeowners Protection Act requires builders of new homes to provide you with a 2-5-10 home warranty backed by a licensed insurer. The Act is designed to ensure that all new homes sold in British Columbia have a minimum level of insurance against certain prescribed construction defects. The warranty provides 2-year coverage of materials and labour, 5-year coverage of the building envelope, and 10-year coverage of structural defects. Warranty protection also requires that you protect your investment by properly maintaining your new home. Consult your Maintenance Manual for guidance.
Before closing a home
Before taking possession of your new home, arrange a preoccupancy walkthrough with your builder. This is an opportunity to identify any construction deficiencies that need correcting before you move in. During this meeting, the builder will present you with a Warranty Commencement Date Certificate to sign. This certificate lets Travelers know the date to begin your new home warranty coverage.
After you purchase a home
Once you have moved into your new home, you'll want to ensure your home warranty coverage has taken effect. Your builder will send the signed Warranty Commencement Date Certificate to Travelers Canada. When we receive the certificate from your builder, we will mail you the Home Warranty Certificate. Please be sure to read the Home Warranty Certificate carefully and keep it in a safe place. The Home Warranty Certificate details your warranty coverage, defines exclusions, and outlines the process for reporting covered defects. The BC Residential Construction Performance Guide assists you in identifying and reporting defects to Travelers Canada. This certificate stays with the home and is transferred to future homeowners.
What is a new home warranty?
A new home warranty is an insurance policy provided with most newly built homes, giving buyers protection against the cost of repairing construction defects covered under their warranty.
Claim services
Report/manage a home warranty claim
Home warranty claims are different from traditional insurance claims, requiring specialized expertise and knowledge. We have experience supporting thousands of homeowners through the warranty claim process, and we are prepared to guide you.
Still have questions?
Explore our home warranty FAQs
First 12 months – coverage for any defect in materials and labour.
First 15 months – coverage for any defects in materials and labour in the common property of a multi-unit building.
First 2 years – coverage includes: Defects in materials, labour and design supplied for the electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning delivery and distribution systems.
Defects in materials, labour and design supplied for the exterior cladding, caulking, windows and doors that may lead to detachment or material damage to the new home.
5 year building envelope warranty
Coverage for the building envelope for up to five years for defects in the building envelope of a new home, including a defect which permits unintended water penetration such that it causes, or is likely to cause, material damage to the new home.
10 year structural defects warranty
Coverage for structural defects for up to 10 years for: Any defect in materials and labour that results in the failure of a load-bearing part of the new home. A defect that causes structural damage that materially and adversely affects the use of the new home for residential occupancy
See samples:
Sample New Home Warranty Certificate - Detached Dwelling B.C.
Sample New Home Warranty Certificate - Multi-Unit Building B.C.
BC Housing has an online registry to confirm if a home is covered by the warranty and who the warranty provider is. Visit the BC Housing-Licensing and Consumer Services new homes registry to find out if your new home is covered by Travelers Canada.
Each home is provided a unique warranty number when it is enrolled with Travelers Canada. This number and other identifying factors about your home are used to create the Warranty Commencement Date Certificate. You sign this document during the final walkthrough with your builder, and we use this signed document to begin the warranty coverage.
We try our best to process the information we receive to the best of our ability. Unfortunately, documents are sometimes illegible, incomplete or missing updated information. These small errors will not affect your home warranty or your ability to make a claim. However, if you are unsatisfied with the package you received, we will issue a duplicate one electronically. Please email [email protected] with your address to process your request.
The home warranty always remains with the property, so there is no formal transfer process. Please provide the new owners with the home warranty certificate for their reference. If you are the new owners of a home covered by a warranty and would like this updated in our database, please email your details to [email protected], and we will process your request.
We are aware that sometimes documents get lost or misplaced. Travelers Canada can provide a duplicate copy via email for no charge. To request another copy, please email us at [email protected]. Please make sure to provide both the civic address of your property as well as your email address so that we can process your request.
Travelers Canada can supply a confirmation of warranty letter. Please email [email protected] with the civic address, and we will send a confirmation letter to the email address provided.
Travelers Canada requires written notice outlining the full details of the defect. This can be provided via mail, fax, or emailing [email protected]. For more information on the claims process please refer to Chapter 5 of your warranty manual.
Resources
Insights to help you maintain your home
New Home Warranty Insights
Concrete Driveway Care and Maintenance
With proper upkeep concrete driveways can provide years of serviceability. Learn more about how to care and maintain a concrete driveway from Travelers Canada.
New Home Warranty Insights
Tips for Managing Rain in Your Attic in Your Home
Attic rain is caused by the rapid melting of excessive ice/frost in the attic of your home. In the winter months, this frost begins to accumulate when excess moisture enters an unconditioned attic. Learn more about how to properly manage rain in your attic.
New Home Warranty Insights
Surface Water Management
Managing surface water by directing water away from your home is the primary defense for keeping your basement dry and avoiding costly water damage. It is important to also consider where this water gets redirected to. Learn about managing surface water from Travelers Canada.
