New home warranty

Condominium purchasers must be provided new home warranty protection under the act.

It is important to know the start date for warranty coverage on common property and common facilities, as it may be different from the commencement date for warranty coverage on individual units.

When a structure not originally built as a dwelling (such as a, garage, granary or church) is to be converted into a residential home, the requirements of the New Home Buyer Protection Act must be met for building permits to be issued.

Buildings converted into condominiums, such as rental buildings and industrial or commercial spaces converted and sold as residential condominiums, may require home warranty coverage.

For buildings more than 10 years old, warranty is not required unless the conversion meets the reconstruction (renovation) threshold.

When a home is relocated to Alberta, the requirements of the New Home Buyer Protection Act apply under the same rules as those homes built in Alberta.

When an older home is relocated in such a way that 75% or more is new construction, this is considered a new home, and the New Home Buyer Protection Act applies.

When a home is moved from one location to another within Alberta and has warranty coverage as per the act, this coverage cannot be terminated once it has commenced.

Any damage caused during the move may not be covered. Consult with your warranty provider prior to moving.

Multi-family rental units do not require home warranty if the owners plan to keep the property for at least ten years. Read more on rental-use designation.

Home renovations do not require home warranty coverage or that the builder is licensed under the New Home Buyer Protection Act, except when it results in over 75% of the completed home being brand new construction.

If you have questions about whether a renovation meets the definition of a new home, contact the Residential Protection Program.

Landowners who want to build their own homes can do so with an owner builder authorization. An approved owner builder can choose to build with or without home warranty.

Read more on owner builder authorization.

The New Home Buyer Protection Act does not apply to homes built on or relocated to federal lands, including First Nations Reserves, National Parks, and federally controlled improvement districts, as they are outside the scope of the Act. These properties are identified as out of scope and are not subject to the requirements or enforcement provisions of the Act.

If your home is out of scope, you are not required to register it in the Public Registry or purchase new home warranty. However, obtaining new home warranty is considered a best practice, as it provides coverage for key components of a home for up to a period of 10 years. To learn more about the warranty coverage, visit New home warranty – Overview.

Where a home is out of scope but has been previously registered in the Public Registry, its inclusion does not indicate that new home warranty coverage is required or that provincial oversight applies.

If you have questions about out-of-scope properties, contact the Residential Protection Program.