On the legal completion date of your new home, your two-year defect warranty will begin. This comprehensive cover is provided by Sky-House.co to cover any defects found in the property within the first two years. A new-build home is a hand-crafted product with new fixtures and fittings that need time to settle in. It is quite normal for new homes to have minor defects, which are often cosmetic in nature.

So, what is a defect? A defect is defined as non-compliance or a failure to perform to the regulatory standards covering all aspects of your new home. Below is a guide to what is covered under your two-year defect period and what circumstances may affect this cover.

ITEMS COVERED BY YOUR DEFECT WARRANTY:

Heat pump

• The heat pump in your home is covered, if fitted.
• Not covered when:
  – problems are due to lack of maintenance; or
  – not subjected to an annual service (as part of the annual service on your cylinder).

Plumbing

• The plumbing and pipes are covered.
• Not covered when:
  – issues are the result of poor maintenance; or
  – blockages are caused by inappropriate items in plug holes or toilets.

Drainage

• Any part of the drainage system serving your home is covered.
• Not covered when the drainage suffers blockages not caused by a defect in the system.

Electrical

• The fixed electrics in the home, such as wiring, sockets and switches, are covered.
• Not covered when defects are not reported within 7 days of legal completion. Bulbs and fuses are
  not covered.

Heating

• The electric panel heaters in the home are covered.
• Not covered when issues are the result of lack of care or maintenance.

Seals

• Seals such as mastic are covered.
• Not covered when damage is caused by a lack of care or maintenance.

Smoke alarms

• Smoke alarms are fully covered.
• Not covered when there’s been a failure to carry out proper maintenance and servicing.

Kitchen units and appliances

• Any cosmetic damage to kitchen units, surfaces and appliances is cover, if reported within 1 week of legal completion.
• Not covered when issues are the result of settlement, or lack of care and maintenance.
• Al integrated appliances (such as oven, hob and extractor) provided by us are covered by the manufacturers’ warranty. If a fault is detected, please contact the manufacturer.

Bathroom

• The sanitary ware items (such as the toilet, sinks, taps and bath) are covered.
• Not covered when:
• issues are the result of lack of care or maintenance; or
• issues are the result of normal wear and tear; or
• cosmetic defects to sanitary ware items are not reported within 1 week of legal completion.

Wardrobes and other furniture

• If provided by us, cosmetic damage to furniture is covered.
• Not covered when:
• any damage or defects to furniture items are not reported within 1 week of legal completion or
• anything that would be considered wear or tear or damage due to lack of care.

Decoration and tiling

• If completed by us, this is covered.
• Not covered when cosmetic damage isn’t reported within 1 week of legal completion.

Doors and windows

• Internal door, external doors and windows are covered.
• Not covered when
• issues are the result of lack of care or poor maintenance; or
• defects to glass or doors in your home are not reported within 1 week of legal completion.

Driveways and pathways

• The hard surfaces outside the home installed by us are covered.
• Not covered when:
• your driveway and other paved areas are damaged by lack of maintenance or by weather damage; or
• Tarmac drives are scuffed by wheel turns from a vehicle.

Insulation

• Insulation installed us is covered.
• Not covered when the insulation has been removed or tampered with.

Guttering

• Leaking gutters are covered.
• Not covered when:
• gutters leak because of a lack of care and maintenance; or
• is the result of storm damage or seasonal changes.

Landscaping

• Any landscaping installed by us is covered.
• Not covered when:
• damage is caused by lack of care or maintenance; or
• damage is caused by the weather or seasonal changes; or
• there are issues with standing water more than three metres from your home.

Outbuildings or walls

• Any external structures built by us before you purchased your home are covered.
• Not covered when:
• damage is caused by lack of maintenance or by the weather; or
• water has made its way through structures with a single layer of brick or masonry and damaged any items contained within.

Solar panels

• The installation of any solar panels and inverters provided by us are covered.
• Not covered when:
• solar panels have not been serviced in accordance with manufacturers guidelines; or
• damage is caused by a lack of maintenance, as a result of weather conditions or seasonal changes.

Ironmongery

• Ironmongery items such as door handles and hinges provided by us are covered.
• Not covered when damage is caused by poor maintenance, wilful damage, or general wear and
  tear.

Outside taps

• Any outdoor tap fitted by us is covered.
• Not covered when:
• damage is caused by poor maintenance; or
• damage is caused by weather conditions or seasonal changes.

SO, WHAT IS NOT COVERED IN THE TWO-YEAR WARRANTY?

Item not covered under the two-year warranty include:

• Damage caused by storms, negligence, abuse, or a failure to maintain the property or
  appliances. This includes a drainage issue caused by the disposal of inappropriate products or
  substances into the drainage system.
• Normal settlement, shrinkage cracks and nail pops. Condensation or associated problems caused by a failure to adequately ventilate the property.
• Problems with any workmanship, materials or appliances that you have brought or added to the property.
• All integrated appliances are not covered by the two-year warranty as they are covered by a manufacturer’s warranty, which is the responsibility of the homeowner to arrange.
• Any cosmetic defects such as scratches, chips or marks that have not been reported within seven days of legal completion. This includes decoration, flooring, tiling, kitchen units, fitted furniture, worktops, sinks, sanitary ware, appliances, glass and other similar items. Outside of this time frame, it maybe difficult to establish how the damage was caused.
• Any inconvenience, distress, consequential loss of enjoyment or income loss caused by remedial works, assuming all reasonable steps have been taken to minimise disrupon.

Please note all this applies to all our house types so there may be items listed which aren’t applicable to your property.

At the end of the two-year warranty, the 10 Year New Homes Structural Warranty (such as ICW or NHBC) covers your home from years 3-10. This only covers structural issues with the property. It doesn’t cover cosmetic issues or minor defects. Please refer to the guidance provided on handover for more information on your structural warranty.