Purchasing a newly built home in Ottawa is one of the largest financial commitments most people will ever make. Whether you are buying in a large subdivision development in Barrhaven, Findlay Creek, or Riverside South, or commissioning a custom build in an established neighbourhood like Westboro or the Glebe, understanding your warranty coverage is essential to protecting that investment. In Ontario, all newly built homes are covered by a statutory warranty administered by Tarion Warranty Corporation. This warranty is not optional. Every builder who constructs new homes in Ontario must be regi...
The Ontario new home warranty provides three distinct levels of coverage, each with a different duration. Understanding these three levels and what they cover is the foundation of protecting your rights as a new homeowner.
The one-year warranty covers defects in workmanship and materials, including unauthorized substitutions of materials specified in the purchase agreement. This is the broadest coverage period and covers virtually everything in the home. Common one-year warranty claims in Ottawa new builds include dry...
The two-year warranty covers defects in materials, including windows, doors, and caulking, defects in work that results in water penetration through the building envelope, defects in work that results in the detachment, displacement, or deterioration of exterior cladding such as brick, stone, or sid...
The seven-year major structural defect warranty covers defects in work or materials that result in the failure of a load-bearing part of the building, including the foundation, structural framing, load-bearing walls, beams, columns, and roof structure. It also covers defects that materially compromi...
One of the most critical aspects of the Ontario new home warranty is understanding the deadlines for submitting claims. Missing a deadline can result in losing your right to have a defect covered, even if the defect is clearly within the warranty scope. Tarion has established specific submission windows that you must follow.
During the first year, you have three specific opportunities to submit warranty claims. The first submission window is at the 30-day mark after possession (also known as the pre-delivery inspection or PDI form). Document any defects you notice during your first month of occupancy and submit them thr...
Two-year warranty claims must be submitted between month 13 and the end of month 24. Items that could have been claimed under the one-year warranty but were not submitted during year one are not eligible for two-year coverage unless they fall within the specific two-year coverage categories. Seven-y...
Ottawa's climate, soil conditions, and the pace of new construction create specific patterns of defects that new homeowners should watch for. Being aware of these common issues helps you identify problems early and submit warranty claims within the required timelines.
Ottawa's Leda clay (marine clay) soils are notorious for causing foundation settlement and movement. New homes built on these soils may experience foundation cracking (both structural and non-structural), basement floor cracking and heaving, water infiltration through foundation walls during spring ...
Ottawa's extreme temperature range from minus 35 in winter to plus 35 in summer creates significant thermal expansion and contraction cycles that test the building envelope. Common issues include window and door seal failures leading to air and water infiltration, brick and stone veneer cracking at ...
Effective documentation is the key to successful warranty claims. Tarion and your builder will assess your claims based on the evidence you provide, so thorough documentation is essential. For every defect you identify, take multiple photographs from different angles with good lighting, include a ruler or common object for scale reference, note the date the defect was first observed, describe the location precisely (room, wall, approximate height), describe the defect in objective, factual terms...
Most reputable Ottawa builders take warranty obligations seriously and address legitimate defects promptly. However, disputes do arise. If your builder refuses to repair a warranted defect, disputes whether the issue is a defect, or delays repairs unreasonably, you have recourse through Tarion. After you submit a claim through the Tarion portal and the builder fails to resolve it within the specified timeframe, Tarion will arrange an inspection by a Tarion warranty representative. The inspector ...
The warranty provides three levels of coverage: one-year coverage for all workmanship and materials defects, two-year coverage for building envelope defects, building code violations, and major system defects (electrical, plumbing, heating), and seven-year coverage for major structural defects affecting load-bearing elements of the home.
Submit claims through the Tarion MyHome online portal at myhome.tarion.com. Create your account using your enrollment number from your purchase agreement. Upload photographs, provide detailed descriptions of defects, and submit within the required timelines. The 30-day, year-one, and year-two submission windows all have specific deadlines.
The 11-month mark before your one-year warranty expires is the most critical deadline. Conduct a thorough inspection of your entire home at this point and submit all one-year warranty items. After the one-year mark, only specific categories of defects are covered under the narrower two-year warranty.
It depends on the type and severity. Hairline cracks from normal concrete curing are not considered defects. However, cracks wider than 3 millimetres, horizontal cracks, cracks that allow water infiltration, and cracks indicating structural movement are warranted defects. Foundation issues in Ottawa are common due to the region's Leda clay soils.
Yes, the Ontario new home warranty applies to all new residential construction including freehold homes, condominiums, and townhomes. Condominium coverage includes both the individual unit and the common elements. The condominium corporation is responsible for submitting claims related to common elements on behalf of all owners.