Lost NHBC Certificate? How to Get a Copy When Buying a House
Buying a home under ten years old and the NHBC certificate is missing? Why lenders want it, where to get a copy, and what to do while you wait.
Key takeaways
- An NHBC certificate shows that a home built in the last ten years is covered by NHBC's Buildmark warranty, and the dates the cover runs.
- Lenders usually need a new home warranty they accept for a home built or converted in the last ten years, so a missing certificate can hold up the mortgage.
- A copy can usually come from NHBC itself, from the solicitor who acted on the first purchase, or from the developer.
- The warranty and the building control certificate are different documents: a buyer's solicitor may ask for both.
- Other warranty providers, such as Premier Guarantee or LABC Warranty, issue their own certificates.
If the home you are buying was built or converted in the last ten years, the buyer's lender will usually want proof that it has a new home warranty. For most homes, that proof is an NHBC certificate, and when the seller cannot find it, the mortgage can wait.
This guide explains what the certificate is, why lenders want it, how to get a copy, and what else the buyer's solicitor may ask for.
What an NHBC certificate is
NHBC's Buildmark is a warranty that covers a new home for ten years from completion. The certificate shows the property is covered and the dates the cover runs. NHBC is the largest provider, but not the only one: Premier Guarantee, LABC Warranty and others issue their own certificates, and lenders publish which providers they accept.
Why the buyer's lender wants it
Lenders usually need a home built or converted in the last ten years to be covered by a new home warranty they accept, as set out in the UK Finance Mortgage Lenders' Handbook and each lender's own requirements. The buyer's solicitor has to show the lender the cover is in place for the rest of the ten years, so a missing certificate stops them reporting to the lender.
How to get a copy of an NHBC certificate
- Ask the seller to check their papers, including the pack from when they bought the home new.
- Ask the solicitor who acted on the first purchase. The warranty documents are usually in their file.
- Ask NHBC for a copy, with the property's address and, for a new build, the plot number and development name.
- Ask the developer, if the home was bought from them recently.
Ask as soon as the buyer's solicitor raises it, and tell them it has been requested so they can keep the lender informed.
The warranty is not the building regulations certificate
A buyer's solicitor may ask for two documents that are easy to confuse:
- The warranty certificate, showing the home is covered for ten years.
- The building regulations final certificate, showing the work was signed off by a building control body. For many new builds that was also NHBC, or another private approver.
If the building control certificate is the one missing, see missing building regulations certificate? What buyers can do.
If the home is over ten years old
The Buildmark warranty runs for ten years, so once a home is past that, there is no cover for the certificate to prove, and lenders do not usually ask for it.
How Casera can help
Casera works with solicitors and conveyancers on the searches and documents a purchase needs. When a certificate is missing, our search team can find who holds it, request a copy and chase it until it arrives. See document retrieval.
We work through your solicitor, not around them. Tell us what is missing and who your solicitor is, and we will take it from there.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a copy of my NHBC certificate?
Usually, yes. Ask NHBC for a copy, with the property's address and, for a new build, the plot number. The solicitor who acted on the first purchase, or the developer, may also hold one.
How long does it take to get a replacement NHBC certificate?
It depends on NHBC's current workload, so ask for it as soon as the buyer's solicitor raises it. Your solicitor can tell the lender it has been requested.
Do I need an NHBC certificate to sell my house?
If the home is under ten years old, the buyer's lender will usually want evidence of a new home warranty it accepts, and the NHBC certificate is that evidence for an NHBC home.
Is the NHBC certificate the same as building regulations sign-off?
No. The NHBC certificate is the warranty. Building regulations sign-off is a separate final certificate from whichever body did the building control, which may also have been NHBC.
What if the home is over ten years old?
The Buildmark warranty runs for ten years, so after that there is no cover for the certificate to prove, and lenders do not usually ask for it.
