Retrospective structural warranty questions answered

A structural warranty arranged after building work has started, or after it has finished. Like a warranty registered at the start, it protects owners and lenders against serious defects in the structure for the policy period - but the provider has to rely on evidence for the work it did not see being built.

There is usually no law that says a new home must have one. In practice most mortgage lenders expect a newly built or converted home to have a warranty from a provider they accept, or in some cases a professional consultant's certificate, so a home without either can be hard to sell or refinance.

Typically the cost of putting right serious defects in the structure - foundations, load-bearing walls and frames, floors and the roof structure - and on many policies the waterproof envelope. The policy wording sets out exactly what is and is not covered, and a retrospective policy may carry extra exclusions.

Usually 10 years, and some providers offer 12. The quotation and policy wording set out when the cover period starts and ends, which is worth checking on a building that was finished some time ago.

No. It is decided case by case by the provider, and some projects will not be accepted. We will tell you honestly and early whether yours is likely to be.

Often, yes. Some specialist providers consider projects part way through, relying on evidence for the work already done and inspecting the stages still to come. The earlier you ask, the better. See warranty after work has started.

Sometimes. A few providers will consider a completed building after a survey and a review of the build records, and some only look at buildings finished within a limited number of years. See completed buildings.

Typically building control inspection records and the completion certificate, dated photographs of each stage, architect's or engineer's site reports, structural calculations and any ground investigation. See evidence and surveys.

Because it shapes the whole case. If a sale, purchase or remortgage is waiting, the warranty has to come from a provider the lender accepts and we work to your date - so tell us the date of exchange or completion if there is one. If there is no deadline, there is time to gather the strongest evidence first. Our form asks why you need it, the date it is needed by and which records you have.

Why you need the warranty and by when, where the build is up to, and which of these you have - building control inspection records, the completion certificate, dated photos taken during the build, the structural engineer's drawings and calculations, and any architect's or engineer's site reports. Missing some is common and does not rule a project out, but telling us early saves time.

Possibly. If something important is hidden and the records do not answer the question, the provider may ask for a trial pit, a small area to be opened up or an intrusive survey before it decides.

Not automatically. A registration is normally tied to the original developer, so ask the original provider first whether it will continue or amend it. If it will not, a new developer generally needs its own cover for the work already built. See stalled and rescued sites.

Each lender sets its own rules on which warranty providers it accepts, and they can change. We check whether a provider is likely to be accepted by the lenders involved before you commit, because a warranty a lender will not accept is of little use - but the lender makes the final decision.

They are different things. With a professional consultant's certificate the consultant is liable for six years from the date of the certificate, backed by their professional indemnity insurance - so a claim means showing the consultant was at fault. A warranty is insurance cover for the policy period, usually 10 years. Some lenders accept a certificate for some homes, but many prefer a warranty. See architect's certificate or warranty.

Sometimes. If retrospective cover can be arranged with a provider the buyer's lender accepts, the sale may still go ahead - but it takes time, so start as soon as you can. See selling or remortgaging.

Normally, yes. Each home's certificate stays with the property, so later owners benefit for whatever remains of the policy period. The policy wording sets out who is covered.

As a rough guide, around 1.25% of the rebuild cost for a build already under way and around 1.5% for a finished building, against around 1% when cover is registered before the start (plus a modest broker fee, only charged if we arrange your cover). The provider sets the final price. See retrospective warranty costs.

Our modest broker fee is only charged on success - if we do not arrange your cover, you pay us nothing. Our quotations are free and without obligation, and the fee is shown separately in every quotation.

No. Retrospective Warranties is an insurance broker - a trading style of Latent Defects, a trading name of Finance Delta Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We arrange cover on a non-advised basis, and the warranty is provided by the provider or insurer named in your quotation.

Our terms of business and a statement of your demands and needs, before any cover is bought. Your quotation names the provider and shows every part of the cost separately.