Maintenance & warranty.

Tarion administers Ontario's mandatory new-home warranty. Where your home is built by a Tarion-registered builder, coverage runs in three periods after possession: one year, two years and seven years, each protecting against specific items — from defects in work and materials to major structural defects.

The one-year warranty requires the home to be fit to live in, built to the Ontario Building Code, and free of defects in work and materials. The two-year warranty covers water penetration, the electrical, plumbing and heating systems, exterior cladding, and health-and-safety Code issues. The seven-year warranty covers major structural defects.

The PDI is a documented walk-through before you take possession, recording the home's condition and any items to address. It establishes the baseline for your warranty coverage, so it is worth doing carefully and unhurried.

Where your home is covered by Tarion, items are reported within the defined statutory windows (for example, a 30-day and a year-end form in the first year), and the builder is given the opportunity to resolve them. Note that, effective January 1, 2026, new freehold buyers must complete Tarion registration within 45 days of purchase to preserve full deposit protection.

A new home dries out and settles in its first year, so minor drywall cracks, nail pops and small gaps in trim or caulking are normal and are typically addressed at the year-end warranty service. They are cosmetic, not structural.

Routine seasonal care: service the heating and cooling equipment, replace or clean filters (including the HRV or ERV), check humidity, clear gutters and grading, test safety devices, and inspect caulking and seals. A little routine maintenance protects both performance and warranty.

Follow the manufacturer's service intervals: filter and coil maintenance for HVAC, periodic checks of the geothermal loop and heat pump, filter cleaning for the HRV or ERV, and occasional inspection and monitoring for solar. We provide the manuals and a maintenance overview at handover.

Each material has its own simple care regime — sealing and gentle cleaning for natural stone, appropriate products for hardwood and millwork, and routine attention to high-use surfaces. We hand over guidance so finishes keep their look for years.

Where a registered builder is engaged, warranty items go to your builder and Tarion; for specific equipment, the relevant manufacturer or installer under their warranties. We hand over a complete, organised record so you always know who to call.

Unauthorised alterations, neglecting required maintenance, or missing reporting windows can affect coverage. Keeping up routine maintenance, documenting issues, and reporting within the required reporting timelines keeps your warranty fully in force.