Alberta New Home Warranty Explained: 1-2-5-10 Coverage Guide (2026)
If you're buying or own a new home in Calgary, Cochrane, Airdrie, or anywhere in Alberta, you're protected by one of the strongest mandatory new home warranty programs in Canada. But most homeowners only learn what their warranty actually covers after a deadline has already passed. This guide breaks down the Alberta New Home Warranty in plain language — what 1-2-5-10 coverage means, what's covered (and what isn't), who the approved providers are, and how to file a claim before your window closes.
What is the Alberta New Home Warranty?
Since February 1, 2014, the New Home Buyer Protection Act has required every new home built in Alberta to carry warranty coverage from a licensed provider. It's mandatory — your builder cannot legally sell or transfer possession of a new home without it. The rules are set by Service Alberta, but the warranty itself is provided by private licensed companies.
The coverage tiers are standardized by law, so a Progressive policy and an Alberta New Home Warranty Program policy give you the same minimum protection. The differences come down to claims experience, customer service, and optional upgrades.
How long is new home warranty in Alberta? The 1-2-5-10 structure
Every Alberta new home warranty follows the same four-tier timeline. The clock starts on your possession date, not the construction date.
1 year — Labour and materials (workmanship)
The broadest tier. Covers defects in materials and workmanship throughout the home: drywall, paint, trim, flooring, cabinetry, doors, windows, fixtures, finishing, and minor mechanical issues. This is the window most homeowners miss — small issues feel cosmetic at month 6 and ignored at month 13.
2 years — Delivery and distribution systems
Covers defects in the systems that move things through the house: electrical wiring, plumbing supply and drainage, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Also covers defects in the labour and materials supplied by the builder for these systems. Think furnace, ductwork, water lines, electrical panel.
5 years — Building envelope
Covers defects in the building envelope — the parts of the home that keep weather out. This includes water penetration through the roof, walls, windows, doors, and foundation. Calgary's freeze-thaw cycles, Chinooks, and ice damming make this a meaningful window.
10 years — Major structural
Covers defects in load-bearing components that compromise the structural integrity of the home: foundation, framing, load-bearing walls, beams, columns, and roof structure. This is the long tail — rare claims, but the most expensive ones.
What is covered under Alberta New Home Warranty?
- Defects in workmanship and materials supplied by the builder
- Code violations that affect health, safety, or habitability
- Mechanical system defects (wiring, plumbing, HVAC)
- Water penetration through the building envelope
- Structural failures of load-bearing components
- Detached garages and outbuildings included in the original build
What is not covered
- Normal wear and tear, shrinkage, and settling cracks
- Damage caused by the homeowner, tenants, or third parties
- Landscaping, fencing, sheds added after possession
- Appliances (covered by their own manufacturer warranty)
- Maintenance items (caulking, paint touch-ups, filter changes)
- Damage from extreme weather events or acts of nature
- Secondary suites or major renovations done after possession
Approved warranty providers in Alberta
Your builder chooses the warranty provider — but every provider must be licensed by Service Alberta and meet the same minimum coverage standards. The major licensed providers operating in Calgary and across Alberta are:
- Alberta New Home Warranty Program (ANHWP) — Alberta's largest, builder-owned non-profit, operating since 1974
- Progressive Home Warranty — National provider with strong Alberta presence
- National Home Warranty — National provider, common with mid-size builders
- Pacific Home Warranty — Western Canadian provider
- Travelers Canada — Major insurer, growing footprint
- WBI Home Warranty — Newer entrant, common with custom builders
Check your possession documents to confirm which provider covers your home. The provider's name, your enrolment number, and the start date are required disclosures.
How to register a warranty claim
- Document the deficiency. Photograph it with a date stamp. Note when you first noticed it. Measure if relevant.
- Notify the builder in writing first. Email is fine — phone calls don't count. Most warranties require you to give the builder a reasonable opportunity to fix the issue before escalating.
- Keep a paper trail. Save every email, text, and photo. If the builder agrees to fix something, get the date in writing.
- If the builder doesn't respond or refuses, file a formal claim directly with the warranty provider listed on your enrolment documents. Most providers have an online claim portal.
- If the claim is denied, you can request a third-party conciliation through Service Alberta.
The biggest mistake new homeowners make
The 1-year workmanship window is by far the most-missed warranty deadline in Alberta. Drywall pops, sticking doors, hairline trim gaps, paint flaws, squeaky floors — they all feel minor at month 4. By month 13, the builder has no obligation to fix them.
The fix is simple: book a third-party year-end inspection between month 10 and 11. A licensed inspector documents every workmanship issue in a formal report, and you submit that report to the builder before your window closes. Builders take a documented inspection report seriously — it's much harder to brush off than a homeowner's emailed list.
This is one of the highest-ROI services we offer. A typical year-end inspection catches 25–50 deficiencies the homeowner missed, every one of which becomes the builder's responsibility to fix. See our new construction inspection service or read our new build walkthrough checklist for what to document.
Does the warranty transfer if I sell?
Yes. The warranty stays attached to the home, not the original owner. If you buy a 4-year-old new build, you still have the remaining 1 year of envelope coverage (toward the 5-year cap) and 6 years of structural coverage. Always ask for the warranty enrolment number when buying a resale home that's still within a coverage tier.
Frequently asked questions
How long is new home warranty in Alberta?
Alberta's mandatory new home warranty follows a 1-2-5-10 structure: 1 year on labour and materials (workmanship), 2 years on delivery and distribution systems (electrical, plumbing, heating), 5 years on the building envelope (water penetration), and 10 years on major structural components.
What is covered under Alberta New Home Warranty?
Coverage includes defects in workmanship and materials, defects in mechanical systems (wiring, plumbing, HVAC), water penetration through the building envelope, and structural failures. It does not cover normal wear and tear, owner damage, landscaping, appliances under their own warranty, or maintenance items.
Is new home warranty mandatory in Alberta?
Yes. Since February 1, 2014, the New Home Buyer Protection Act requires every new home built in Alberta to carry warranty coverage from a licensed provider. Builders cannot legally sell a new home without it.
Who are the approved warranty providers in Alberta?
The main licensed providers are Alberta New Home Warranty Program (ANHWP), Progressive Home Warranty, National Home Warranty, Pacific Home Warranty, Travelers Canada, and WBI Home Warranty. Your builder chooses the provider — the coverage tiers are standardized by law.
How do I register a warranty claim?
Submit a written deficiency list to your builder first. If the builder doesn't resolve it within a reasonable timeframe, file a formal claim directly with the warranty provider listed on your possession documents. Keep all photos, dates, and correspondence.
When does the warranty period start?
The warranty clock starts on your possession date — not the date the home was built or the contract was signed. The 1-year workmanship window is the most commonly missed deadline, so book a third-party inspection at month 10 or 11.
Does the warranty transfer to a new owner?
Yes. The warranty stays with the home, not the owner. If you buy a 3-year-old new build, you still have the remaining 2 years of mechanical, 2 years of envelope (toward the 5-year cap), and 7 years of structural coverage.
Should I get a third-party inspection before the 1-year mark?
Strongly yes. The 1-year workmanship window is your last chance to flag drywall, paint, trim, flooring, cabinetry, and minor mechanical issues. A third-party year-end inspection typically catches 25–50 deficiencies the homeowner missed — every one of them is the builder's responsibility to fix.
Protect your warranty investment
The Alberta New Home Warranty is one of the best buyer protections in the country — but only if you use it before the windows close. Whether you're at month 11 of a new build or considering a third-party inspection before final possession, we can help.
Call (403) 710-7770 or book online in under two minutes.