Part 5: Other provisions about safety standards, etc. New Homes Ombudsman scheme Section 144: New build home warranties Background
At present, 10-year warranties are provided on new homes as a requirement to obtain mortgage finance rather than as a legal requirement. As part of the Act’s general aim of improving the safety and standards of buildings, this section mandates provision of such warranties in law, extends the minimum term from 10 to 15 years (subsection 5) and also provides powers for the Secretary of State to set a range of minimum requirements in regulations (subsection (4)).
	The minimum warranty term of 15 years mirrors the extended limitation period to bring litigation under section 1 of the Defective Premises Act 1972 and section 38 of the Building Act 1984, set by section 144 of this Act.