Master Build 10-Year Guarantee: The Complete Guide

What is the Master Build Guarantee?

The Master Build 10-Year Guarantee is offered through eligible members of the Registered Master Builders Association. Only a Master Builders member can offer this particular guarantee, but membership alone does not mean a project is automatically covered. The guarantee sits alongside the building contract and must be applied for and approved before building work starts.

Master Build describes the product as protection for residential projects when a builder is unable or unwilling to finish the work or remedy eligible defects. The maximum total claims may be the lower of $1,000,000 or the building contract value. The actual protection depends on whether the approved application provides full or partial cover and on the specific certificate and terms issued for the project.

It is called a 10-year guarantee because structural-defect cover can run for 10 years from the guarantee acceptance date. Not every part of the cover lasts for 10 years. Materials and workmanship cover generally lasts for two years after practical completion, while loss-of-deposit and non-completion cover apply at earlier stages of the project.

What does the Master Build 10-Year Guarantee cover?

The official overview lists five main categories. Each has its own conditions, limits, starting point, and notification rules, so treat the list as a guide rather than a promise that every loss will be accepted.

• Loss of deposit: Full cover may protect a deposit when the builder cannot start the project, including because of liquidation. The current published limit is the lower of $50,000 or 10% of the contract value.
• Non-completion: Once permanent work begins onsite, full cover may help with the additional cost of completing the project if the builder cannot do so. The current published limit is the lower of $500,000 or 20% of the contract value.
• Materials and workmanship: This can apply when work was not completed as specified, or defects identified at the final review remain unresolved because the builder is unable or unwilling to put them right. The published cover period is two years from practical completion.
• Structural defects: This addresses qualifying failures of key structural elements or damage that makes the home unsafe, unsanitary, or uninhabitable. Structural cover can last 10 years from acceptance of the guarantee.
• Temporary accommodation: If an accepted claim requires you to leave the home during remedial work, the published allowance can be up to $10,000.

Weathertightness needs careful interpretation. Water ingress is not automatically a 10-year structural claim. A defect may fall within the two-year materials and workmanship section, while 10-year structural cover generally requires resulting structural damage or a qualifying impact on the home's safety or habitability. Master Build's current guidance specifically warns homeowners not to treat every cladding failure, leak, or minor crack as a structural defect.

Read the official Master Build 10-Year Guarantee overview and compare it with your own accepted documents before making a financial or legal decision.

What is not covered?

A building guarantee is not a substitute for home insurance, routine maintenance, appliance warranties, or a clear building contract. Master Build also states that contractual disputes must be resolved before a guarantee claim can proceed. If the argument is about price, scope, variations, or what the contract required, the guarantee team may direct the parties to resolve that dispute first.

Do not assume the following are covered unless your accepted terms say so:

• normal wear and tear, ageing, or damage caused by inadequate maintenance;
• landscaping, fencing, pools, or external works outside the covered contract;
• standalone appliances or products covered by a manufacturer warranty;
• work, materials, or subcontractors paid for directly by the owner;
• defects caused by later owner alterations, DIY work, misuse, or neglect;
• aesthetic issues that do not meet the relevant defect threshold; and
• losses above the applicable category or total policy limits.

The safest approach is to ask for the full terms before work begins, identify every owner-supplied item in writing, keep maintenance records, and get written approval before changing the scope. If you are buying a covered home, inspect it properly and read the transfer declaration before accepting the guarantee terms.

How does a Master Build Guarantee transfer work when a home is sold?

A Master Build Guarantee is transferable. It can move to a new homeowner any number of times during the original life of the cover, provided each transfer is approved. A transfer does not create a fresh 10-year period. The new owner receives only the unexpired portion of the original guarantee.

The incoming homeowner is responsible for the master builder guarantee transfer. The current official fee is $400 including GST. The request must be submitted within 90 days of settlement. The first transfer from an approved development company to the first occupant is free when it is submitted within that 90-day window.

Master Builders guarantee transfer: step by step

1. Ask the vendor for the guarantee certificate and confirm the guarantee is in the vendor's name.
2. Record the guarantee number, property address, settlement date, and the current owner's details.
3. Complete a full inspection of the home. The transfer form requires the new owner to confirm that the property has been inspected and the guarantee terms accepted.
4. Request the current transfer form from Master Build at help@masterbuilder.org.nz.
5. Sign the form on or after settlement, submit it within 90 days, and pay the applicable $400 including GST fee.
6. Wait for written approval. Do not assume cover has transferred merely because the form or payment was sent.

See Master Build's current guarantee transfer instructions before lodging the form.

How to make a Master Build Guarantee claim

Contact the builder as soon as a problem appears and notify Master Build promptly. Do not arrange non-emergency repairs, cancel or vary the building contract, make further payments, or hire someone else to fix the defect without approval while the claim is being assessed. Those actions can affect the contractual position and the investigation.

The published deadlines differ by claim type. For loss of deposit or non-completion, notify Master Build no later than 30 days after becoming aware of the problem and return the official claim form within 14 days after notification. For materials and workmanship or structural defects, notify Master Build no later than 90 days after discovering the defect and return the official form within 14 days after notification.

Prepare a clear evidence pack before you call or email:

• the guarantee certificate and guarantee number;
• the signed building contract, specifications, approved variations, and invoices;
• the practical completion notice and relevant inspection records;
• dated photos or video showing the issue and any progression;
• written correspondence with the builder and a timeline of events; and
• professional reports already obtained, without commissioning repairs first.

Master Build will generally speak with both homeowner and builder, then decide on a response. That may involve the existing builder, another Master Builders member, or payment of an approved amount. Start with the official claim guidance or contact the guarantee team at 0800 762 328 or help@masterbuilder.org.nz.

Does the Master Build Guarantee cover renovations?

It can. Master Build says the 10-Year Guarantee is available for renovations over $30,000 including GST, from kitchen and bathroom alterations to additions and larger whole-home projects. Full cover can include loss of deposit and non-completion, while partial cover excludes those two categories. Eligibility and pricing depend on the contract value and the accepted application.

Ask about the guarantee before renovation work starts. It cannot safely be treated as a retrospective add-on after a problem appears. Make sure the contract clearly separates builder-supplied work from owner-supplied fixtures, appliances, and trades, because that boundary can matter during a claim.

If you are still comparing project types, explore our renovation builders guide or review the process for a new home build before requesting quotes.

Why choose a Master Builder?

Master Builders membership can be one useful credibility signal because applicants are assessed against the association's membership requirements and eligible members can offer the Master Build Guarantee. The guarantee can add a separate layer of financial protection when the application is accepted. It is especially relevant when a builder cannot complete the project or no longer exists to address an eligible defect.

It should not be the only selection test. Check the builder's licence and business identity, speak to recent clients, inspect comparable projects, review the contract, confirm insurance, and understand who will supervise the work. Ask to see written confirmation that your specific guarantee has been accepted before construction begins.

Builders Near Me helps homeowners compare builders by service and region, review available business information, and move from broad research to a properly scoped enquiry. Start from the Builders Near Me homepage, then use the directory to build a shortlist that fits your project rather than relying on a single badge or promise.

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