Understanding a Warranty for Home Improvement Work: A UK Homeowner's Guide

A warranty is a contract between you and the company that carried out the work. Typical lengths vary widely by trade, from a year or two for general building work to 10 years or more for things like damp-proofing or roofing.

Get the warranty in writing, with the start date, its length, and exactly what is and is not covered. A verbal promise is difficult to rely on later.

A warranty is only as good as the company that issued it. If the company stops trading, a warranty from them generally becomes worthless, since there is no one left to honour it.

This is the main reason some trades, particularly damp-proofing and double glazing, are commonly sold alongside a separate insurance-backed guarantee instead of, or as well as, the company's own warranty.

Many warranties for work like damp-proofing, timber treatment, and double glazing are transferable to a new owner if you sell, sometimes for a small admin fee. Check this when the work is carried out, since it can add real value at resale.

A warranty is easy to lose track of over a 10-year term. Keeping it with the rest of your property's record, alongside who carried out the work and when, means the terms are provable whenever you or a future owner need them.