Manitoba's new home warranty: registered builders and the minimum coverage periods

Manitoba's New Home Warranty Act made warranty coverage a condition of building new homes for sale. Buyers who know the periods can report defects in time; owner-builders who plan to sell need to know their own obligations.

Registered builders

Builders and warranty providers must be registered, and only registered builders may build homes for sale to others. Before issuing a building permit, the permit issuer needs proof of the builder's registration and a warranty commitment.

Minimum coverage

The Act sets minimums of 12 months for materials, labour and design; 15 months for common areas of condominiums and other multi-unit buildings under one ownership; 2 years for code violations that threaten health or safety, defects that make a home unliveable, electrical, plumbing and heating systems, the building envelope including water penetration, and cladding, windows and doors that could detach; and 7 years for structural components.

Coverage limit

The province's consumer page describes coverage on most new homes for seven years and up to $100,000. Confirm the limit in your warranty documents.

Owner-builders

People building a home for their own use do not need warranty coverage, but need authorization, and must arrange warranty coverage if they sell within the warranty period.

Using the warranty

Report defects in writing to the warranty provider within the right period and keep copies and photos. Renovations to existing homes are not covered by this program.

Prevention Checklist

• Check the builder's registration before signing.
• Get the warranty provider's name and documents.
• Note your possession date and the 1-, 2- and 7-year deadlines.
• Report defects in writing, with photos.
• Owner-builders selling within the warranty period: arrange coverage first.

References

1. Province of Manitoba. New Home Warranty Protection, Web page, Overview and limit. Accessed 2026-11-01.
2. Province of Manitoba. The New Home Warranty Act, S.M. 2013, c. 23, Web page, Registration; minimum periods; owner-builders. Accessed 2026-11-01.

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