May 25, 2026
Tarion 101: New Home Warranty Coverage Explained
What's covered in year one, year two, and year seven — and what you must report when.
Every new home built in Ontario by a registered builder comes with mandatory warranty coverage administered by Tarion. Knowing what's covered, when, and how to claim is the difference between getting deficiencies fixed and paying out of pocket.
The one-year warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship, Ontario Building Code violations, and unauthorized substitutions. This is your "everything obvious" window — squeaky floors, doors that don't latch, drywall cracks beyond shrinkage, missing or damaged trim, poorly installed fixtures. Submit your 30-day form (within the first 30 days of possession) and your year-end form (between days 30 and 365). Miss the deadlines and Tarion will not consider those items, even if the builder admits they're defects.
The two-year warranty covers water penetration through the building envelope, defects in the electrical, plumbing, and heating systems, defects in the exterior cladding causing detachment or deterioration, and Ontario Building Code violations that affect health and safety. File your two-year form between days 365 and 730. Water issues in particular often surface in the second winter — don't wait.
The seven-year warranty covers major structural defects — things that make the home unsafe to live in or that significantly impair load-bearing structure. These are rare but consequential. The deadline is seven years from possession.
What is NOT covered: normal wear and tear, damage from your own renovations or improper maintenance, secondary damage from a defect you failed to report, appliances (those have separate manufacturer warranties), and anything caused by acts of nature beyond what the code requires.
Process matters. Always submit Tarion's pre-delivery inspection form (PDI) at the walkthrough, listing every visible deficiency before you take possession — anything not on the PDI is much harder to claim later. Use Tarion's online MyHome portal to file forms; don't rely on email to the builder. If the builder doesn't repair within the required timeframe, request a Tarion conciliation — that's the lever that gets stalled repairs moving.
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