New builds and warranties
Does a 10-year warranty mean the surveyor can skip the roof?
No. A warranty is an insurance product with conditions. A survey is an inspection. The existence of Buildmark, or any other 10-year policy, does not make the roof invisible or the ceilings irrelevant. If the surveyor could not see the loft, the limitation still stands.
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.
What is the fuller explanation?
New roofs fail at valleys, leadwork and poorly ventilated eaves like older roofs, sometimes faster because the defect is built in. The surveyor should look. The warranty may or may not pay for what they find. Those are sequential questions: what is wrong, then who covers it. Skipping the look because “it is under warranty” leaves you not knowing which question to ask.
If the loft hatch is sealed or the loft has no boards, say so in the report and treat the roof structure as not inspected. Ask the developer for access if you need it. A warranty inspection you never saw is not your loft inspection. NHBC’s description of the product does not say buyers should stay out of the loft.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- What of the roof did you see, warranty or not?
- Was the loft inspected?
- Which defects would you report to a warranty provider rather than treat as decoration?
What are the typical next steps?
- Read the roof section as if there were no warranty, then ask who pays.
- Do not accept “it’s covered” without the clause.
- If the loft was closed, ask for access before completion.
Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.
Also asked about this
If the warranty will pay, why get a survey?
Because you want to know what to claim, what is excluded, and whether you want the house. Cover is not the same as “nothing is wrong”.
Can you claim for a defect the survey marked as a rating 2?
The policy decides, not the rating. Some cosmetic items are for the developer’s snagging period and not for the insurer. Read the wording.