Jim Bulmer
17 Jul 2026
What developers should be doing now
The way new homes in England are built, inspected, and certified has changed fundamentally. The Building Safety Act 2022 introduced the most significant reform to building control in a generation, and while the full legislative picture is still developing, the direction of travel for structural warranties is clear: standards are going up, and the providers who are already operating at that standard will be the ones developers want to work with.
Understanding what has changed, what is coming, and what it means for your next development is increasingly important.
The Building Safety Act 2022 and what it introduced
The Building Safety Act 2022 overhauled the regulatory framework for building safety in England. Among its reforms, it established the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) within the Health and Safety Executive, created a new regime for higher-risk buildings, and introduced the concept of the Registered Building Inspector (RBI) to replace the legacy Approved Inspector designation.
The RBI designation is significant. Under the Act, building control professionals must now meet defined competence standards to carry out building inspection work. The old Approved Inspector category no longer exists as a live designation. Inspectors who meet the new standards have registered with the BSR as Registered Building Inspectors.
This matters when you are choosing a warranty provider. A provider whose team includes in-house Registered Building Inspectors is operating within the reformed framework. CertiBuild's team includes Registered Building Inspectors under the Building Safety Act 2022. That is not a standard feature of the warranty market.
Section 144 and mandatory structural warranties
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 warranty must include a developer remediation commitment and a policy of insurance providing a minimum of 15 years of cover.
It is important to be clear about the current status of Section 144. It remains uncommenced as of mid-2026 and is not expected to come into force before 2027 at the earliest. The Secretary of State must first make regulations specifying the requirements in detail, and no draft regulations have been published. Implementation remains subject to further consultation and parliamentary process.
That said, the policy direction is settled. A mandatory structural warranty requirement is coming. For developers who are not currently in the habit of commissioning structural warranties, the question is whether to wait or to establish the practice now.
The answer for most developers is straightforward. Structural warranties are already required by the full UK mortgage lending market for new build properties. If your buyers are using mortgage finance, you need a warranty regardless of whether Section 144 is in force. The reform simply confirms that the practice will become a universal legal obligation.
What the reform means for warranty providers
The Building Safety Act has also sharpened focus on the quality and regulatory standing of warranty providers. FCA authorisation is a key indicator of regulatory credibility. 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 lender confidence in the product.
Providers without FCA authorisation, or without staff who hold current professional recognition under the reformed framework, operate at a different standard. For a developer whose buyers are relying on the warranty to secure mortgage finance, the regulatory standing of the provider is not a secondary consideration.
What developers should be doing now
For developers completing new homes in England, the practical steps are clear.
First, confirm that a structural warranty is in place before you begin marketing to buyers who will need mortgage finance. Lenders require it. The warranty must be from a provider with FCA-authorised underwriting.
Second, consider the timeline. Warranty applications should be made early in the development process, not at the point of practical completion. CertiBuild can provide a quote at any stage, and earlier engagement means fewer last-minute complications.
Third, understand the coverage period. Under the terms anticipated for Section 144, warranties will need to provide at least 15 years of insurance cover. Check that your warranty meets that standard now, so you are not rearranging your arrangements when the commencement date is confirmed.
CertiBuild and the reformed framework
CertiBuild has been operating within the reformed building control landscape since the Building Safety Act came into force. The team includes Registered Building Inspectors. The underwriting is FCA-authorised. Structural warranties are accepted across the full UK mortgage lending market.
When Section 144 is implemented, CertiBuild clients will already be meeting the anticipated standard. They will not be scrambling to find a compliant provider or renegotiating warranty terms at short notice.
For developers currently choosing a warranty provider, or reviewing their arrangements ahead of their next scheme, that track record matters. The warranty market is becoming more rigorous, and the right provider is one that is already operating at the standard the reformed framework demands.
To discuss your next development and how CertiBuild can support it, visit certibuild.co.uk or get in touch directly.