How to check if a builder is NHBRC registered
Building a new home is the biggest purchase most people ever make, and the law gives you one strong protection: the builder must be registered with the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC), and the home enrolled with it before building starts. Here is how to check both.
What the law requires
Under the Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act, every home builder must be registered with the NHBRC, and every new home must be enrolled with the NHBRC before construction starts. A builder who is not registered may not build new homes.
Enrolment is what gives you the NHBRC's warranty, which covers major structural defects for five years after you take occupation.
How to check
- Ask for the builder's NHBRC registration number and confirm it with the NHBRC directly.
- Ask for proof that your home has been enrolled before any work starts.
- Check the company on the CIPC register.
- Visit a home they have finished, and speak to the owner.
Approved plans come first
Before building starts, the building plans must be approved by your municipality under the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act. Do not let a builder start on the promise that plans are "in progress": building without approval can lead to fines, problems when you sell, and even an order to demolish.
Renovations and extensions
NHBRC enrolment applies to new homes. Renovations and most alterations to an existing home do not need it, but structural work and extensions still need approved plans. For choosing and vetting a builder for any job, see our guide to finding a trusted roofer or builder.
Common questions
Does my builder have to be NHBRC registered?
Yes, if they are building a new home. The law requires the builder to be registered with the NHBRC and the new home to be enrolled before construction starts.
What does the NHBRC warranty cover?
Enrolment with the NHBRC gives the home a warranty against major structural defects for five years after occupation.
Do renovations need NHBRC enrolment?
Generally no. NHBRC enrolment is for new homes. Structural renovations and extensions still need building plans approved by the municipality.