Alberta's new home warranty — the 1-2-5-10 coverage — is mandatory on new homes built in Alberta: one year for labour and materials, two years for delivery and distribution systems, five years for the building envelope, and ten years for major structural defects. It attaches to the home rather than the buyer, so it transfers on resale, and each deadline matters — a defect reported late can fall outside its coverage window.

Is new home warranty mandatory in Alberta?

Yes. Under Alberta's New Home Buyer Protection Act, in force since February 1, 2014, every new home built in Alberta must carry warranty coverage from an approved provider. Coverage starts at occupancy, permission to occupy, or transfer of title — whichever comes first.

Before you buy a new build, confirm the provider and the start date in writing, and keep both with your purchase documents. If you are comparing a new build against a resale home, my free home evaluation conversation can help you weigh what that warranty is worth against resale value in the same neighbourhood.

What does the 1-year coverage include?

The first year covers labour and materials — the fit-and-finish items you live with daily, such as flooring, cabinets, trim, and fixtures. Defects in how those items were made or installed are the core of most first-year claims.

This is why documentation matters early. Walk your home room by room in the first months, note deficiencies with dates and photos, and submit them well before the first anniversary rather than in a rush at month twelve.

What does the 2-year coverage include?

Years one and two cover the delivery and distribution systems — electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. A furnace fault, a plumbing defect, or an electrical problem that appears in normal use belongs in this window.

Keep service records from day one. Regular maintenance supports your claim, while neglect can affect claims — a system that was never serviced is harder to defend than one with a paper trail.

What do the 5-year and 10-year coverages protect?

Five-year coverage protects the building envelope — the roof, walls, and other components that separate your home from the exterior and the weather. Builders may offer two additional years of envelope coverage, extending it to seven years in total, so check your own policy rather than assuming.

Ten-year coverage protects major structural components, including the frame (including the roof structure) and the foundation. These claims are rare, but they are the most valuable part of the warranty when they are needed.

"He would get back to me with an answer to my questions in no time… Very professional and kind." — Aniela Lesyk, Google review

How do you make a warranty claim in Alberta?

Claims go to your warranty provider, not just to the builder, and they must be made within the relevant coverage period. Build a simple habit: at eleven months, and again before each major deadline, do a full check of the home and submit anything outstanding in writing.

Keep your maintenance records, inspection notes, and all correspondence in one folder for the life of the warranty. The same discipline helps downsizers and executors selling a newer home, too — a transferable warranty with clean records is a selling feature, which is one reason I cover it in my Downsizing & Seniors Guide.

Buying a new build in Edmonton and unsure what your warranty actually covers? Call me at 780-720-8240 before you sign — we will confirm the provider, the start date, and your deadlines together.

By Travis Bannert, Realtor and Mortgage Broker
Travis Bannert, Realtor® | Bridge Realty Group, Maxwell Progressive Realty | 780-720-8240 | bridgerealtygroup.ca