How long does Tarion cover major structural defects in Ontario?

The seven-year warranty covers major structural defects, running from the date of possession to the seventh anniversary of that date.

Tarion divides the new-home warranty into three time periods. The one-year warranty covers items such as defects in work and material and unauthorized substitutions. The two-year warranty covers items such as water penetration, heating and electrical. The seven-year warranty is specifically for major structural defects, and it is the longest of the three periods.

A few things are worth knowing about how the warranty works in practice. If you purchased your home from another homeowner and it is under seven years old, Tarion says you may still be eligible for warranty coverage, so the clock does not necessarily restart on a resale. For condo conversions, Tarion notes that pre-existing elements are not covered by the one-year warranty, and ontario.ca adds that homes built on existing footings or foundations may not be covered. Before making a claim to Tarion, Tarion says it is important to notify your builder first.

On the forms side, the Major Structural Defect Form can be submitted any time after the second year of possession but no later than seven years from possession. That deadline matters: missing it could affect your ability to make a claim under the structural warranty. The other warranty forms cover earlier periods and have their own submission windows, which are separate from the structural defect form.

A private home inspector can attend your Pre-Delivery Inspection or visit before your one-year warranty form is due, but those are services you arrange yourself. Tarion does not require a private inspection at any stage, and no inspector should be described as Tarion-approved or Tarion-certified.

If you are looking for a local Ottawa home inspector to attend a PDI or a warranty walk-through, the request form on this page sends your details to inspectors listed in the Ottawa Construction Network directory.