What is a defects liability period?

The short version

A building contract usually sets a period after completion, often 12 months, during which the builder must fix defects that show up. In New Zealand, residential building work also has a 12-month defect repair period under the Building Act 2004, and implied warranties that last longer than that.

When the period ends, the builder's obligation to come back under it ends too, so it pays to report defects early and keep a record of each one.

What counts as a defect?

A defect is work or materials that don't meet the contract, the building code or the standard you were promised: a leak, a door that won't close, cracked tiles, a fitting that fails. Wear and tear, damage from use, and maintenance (like washing a roof) usually aren't defects.

How to make sure every defect gets fixed

• Report it straight awayWith a photo, the room and a short description. The earlier it's reported, the easier it is to show it was there.
• Keep one listNot emails, texts and sticky notes. One list, with where each defect is up to.
• Watch the end dateKnow when the DLP ends for each home or stage, and get everything reported before then.
• Close it with proofAfter-photos and a note when it's fixed, so there's no argument later.

How DMSW helps

DMSW shows each project's DLP end date, lets residents and owners report defects with a photo from their phone, and keeps every defect on one list from report to sign-off, with before and after photos.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. For your own situation, read your building contract and check with MBIE's building guidance or a lawyer.