Jim Bulmer
23 Jul 2026
The question is no longer whether to get a structural warranty, but which provider to use. This guide sets out the criteria that matter.
For most residential developers in England, arranging a structural warranty is a practical necessity. Mortgage lenders require them. Buyers expect them. And with the mandatory warranty requirement under Section 144 of the Building Safety Act 2022 expected to come into force within the next few years, the practice is becoming universal.
The question is no longer whether to get a structural warranty, but which provider to use. This guide sets out the criteria that matter.
FCA authorisation
The most important question to ask any warranty provider is whether the underwriting behind their product is FCA-authorised. This is not a technicality. The Financial Conduct Authority authorisation is the basis on which lenders across the UK mortgage market accept the warranty.
A structural warranty from a provider without FCA-authorised underwriting may not be accepted by the lender your buyers are using. In practice, that can delay or derail a sale at the worst possible moment.
CertiBuild Ltd is an Appointed Representative of Acrisure Eleven Network Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 314593). That authorisation is the foundation of every warranty CertiBuild issues.
Lender acceptance
FCA authorisation feeds directly into lender acceptance. CertiBuild Structural Warranties are accepted across the full UK mortgage lending market. That is the standard you need for buyers purchasing with mainstream mortgage finance.
When comparing providers, check whether their warranties carry genuinely broad lender acceptance or whether they are restricted to a limited panel of lenders. The difference matters to your buyers' ability to finance their purchases.
National coverage
Not all warranty providers can support developments anywhere in the UK. CertiBuild operates nationally, which means wherever your development is located, the same standard of warranty and service applies.
For developers with multiple sites or who operate across regions, consistent national coverage from a single provider simplifies the procurement and administration process.
Technical credibility
The warranty market includes providers whose involvement in the development process is essentially administrative. CertiBuild's approach is different. The team includes Registered Building Inspectors under the Building Safety Act 2022, which means the people standing behind your warranty have current, credentialed expertise in building control under the reformed framework.
That technical depth matters in two ways. It gives developers access to people who genuinely understand what they are certifying. And as the regulatory requirements around building safety become more stringent, it positions your development within a warranty framework that reflects the current standard of the industry.
Speed and process
Time is a material cost in any development. A warranty provider that is slow to respond to enquiries, slow to issue documentation, or slow to complete the inspection process adds cost and friction to your programme.
CertiBuild's process is designed to move at the pace your development requires. Enquiries are responded to quickly, and the process from quote to certificate is kept as straightforward as possible.
Early engagement
One of the most common mistakes developers make with structural warranties is leaving them too late. Engaging a warranty provider at the outset of a scheme, rather than at practical completion, gives you and your provider the time to align the inspection process with your build programme and avoid complications when you need to move quickly.
CertiBuild can provide a quote at any stage of your project. Early engagement is always recommended.
The regulatory context
Section 144 of the Building Safety Act 2022 will, when implemented, require developers in England to provide a new build home warranty to purchasers at the point of sale. The requirement remains uncommenced as of mid-2026 and is expected to come into force no earlier than 2027. The legislative direction is clear.
Developers who are already working with FCA-authorised warranty providers will be well ahead of that requirement when it arrives. CertiBuild clients are already operating within the framework the legislation anticipates.
Making your decision
The right structural warranty provider for your development is one with FCA-authorised underwriting, genuinely broad lender acceptance, national coverage, and the technical expertise to support the process properly from enquiry through to certificate.
CertiBuild meets each of those criteria. If you are comparing your options or arranging a warranty for your next scheme, we would welcome the conversation.