Defect Liability Period: What Your Contractor Owes After Handover

The day you receive the keys is not the day your contractor’s responsibility ends. Every serious construction agreement includes a defect liability period, a fixed window after handover during which the contractor must fix problems arising from their own workmanship, at no cost to you. When homeowners compare contractors in Mysuru, they study the rate per square foot in detail, then skip past the after-handover clause in thirty seconds. That clause is where a fair contract and a risky one quietly part ways.

The logic is simple. A building reveals its faults slowly. Plaster cracks show up after the first summer, a leaking joint announces itself in the first proper monsoon, and a door hung slightly out of true starts sticking once the timber settles. None of this is visible at the handover walkthrough, which is why a fair contract expects the builder to stand behind the work for a defined period afterwards. This article explains what the period should cover, what it legitimately excludes, and how to write it into your agreement, using our own terms at Uniq Builders as the worked example.

What a defect liability period actually covers

A defect liability period, often written as DLP in commercial contracts, obliges the contractor to rectify defects arising from poor workmanship or materials that fall short of the agreed specification. Typical items squarely inside it:

• Cracks in plaster or masonry beyond normal hairline settlement
• Seepage or dampness traced to bad waterproofing or plumbing joints
• Tiles that hollow, lift or crack because of a poor bedding layer
• Doors and windows that jam, sag or fail to lock because of fitting errors
• Electrical points that fail due to faulty terminations
• Paint that peels because surface preparation was skipped
• Fixtures that leak at joints the contractor made

The common thread is causation. If the problem exists because of how the contractor built it, the contractor owes you the fix, with labour and materials at their cost. You should not pay a visiting charge for the builder to correct the builder’s own mistake.

A good clause also states response behaviour, not just responsibility: who you call, how quickly someone inspects, and within what period the repair is done. A warranty with no service route attached is a sentiment, not a commitment.

What it does not cover, and why that is fair

Contractors are not insurers of everything that happens inside your building forever, and an honest clause says so. Knowing the standard exclusions helps you spot a contractor hiding behind them dishonestly. Reasonable exclusions include:

• Normal wear and tear, such as scuffed paint or worn hinges from daily use
• Damage caused by the occupant, tenants or third parties
• Modifications made by another contractor after handover, which usually void the warranty for that area
• Manufacturer defects in branded fittings such as taps, geysers and switches, which carry the manufacturer’s own warranty
• Hairline shrinkage cracks that are cosmetic and expected as concrete and plaster cure
• Damage from events outside anyone’s control, such as flooding or earthquake

When a contractor declines a repair, apply the same causation test: ask them to explain, in writing, why the defect is not a workmanship issue. A professional firm can do this calmly; a firm that stops answering the phone has answered your real question.

How to write it into your contract before you sign

Negotiate the defect liability period before any advance is paid, alongside the rate and the written specification. Our guide hub for evaluating contractors in Mysuru covers the rest of the agreement; here is what to pin down for the after-handover clause specifically.

1. Duration, in writing. State the period as a number of months from handover, with the handover date recorded in a signed document. A verbal “we will always take care of you” is worth nothing in year two.
2. Scope, in plain words. Name workmanship and specification compliance as the standard, and list the main exclusions, so neither side can improvise later.
3. Cost allocation. Repairs within the period are at the contractor’s cost, labour and materials included. Say it explicitly.
4. Service process. One named contact, one phone number or email, and a stated inspection timeline.
5. Link to the specification. The warranty is only enforceable against a written specification. If the contract never named the waterproofing system or wiring brand, you cannot later prove the work fell short. Every package at Uniq Builders includes a detailed written specification as standard; see how the construction packages are structured.
6. Final payment timing. The last instalment should follow a joint snag inspection, not merely the last day of work.

The worked example: what we commit to after handover

At Uniq Builders we have been building since 2009, with over 200 projects across Mysuru, Bengaluru, Mandya, Srirangapattana, Chamarajanagar and Kollegala. Every package, from Premium at ₹1,999 per square foot to Gold at ₹2,499 and Platinum at ₹2,999 (starting rates; terms and conditions apply, final figure confirmed after a free site visit), carries the same two after-handover commitments: a workmanship warranty and one year of free service.

Because our engineers, architects, surveyors and craftsmen are on our own payroll, the people who built your home are the people who return to service it. There is no subcontractor to chase and no argument about whose labour caused the defect, and the warranty sits against the written specification shared during consultation. Our residential construction service page outlines the full delivery scope, and questions can go directly to our Proprietor and Managing Director, Umashankara A.

Whichever contractor you choose, hold them to this shape of promise: a written period, a clear scope, repairs at their cost, and a named person who picks up the phone. To book a free site visit, contact Uniq Builders on +91 98449 93200.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a defect liability period be for a house in Mysuru?

The period is whatever your agreement states, which is why it must be written down. Twelve months is a widely used benchmark because it takes the building through one full summer and one full monsoon, the seasons that expose most workmanship defects. Uniq Builders includes a workmanship warranty and one year of free service with every package.

What should I do if a defect appears after handover?

Photograph the defect, note the date, and notify the contractor in writing by email or WhatsApp so there is a record, then follow up by phone. Refer to the warranty clause and the written specification in your message. Keep the correspondence even if the matter is resolved quickly, because a pattern of defects in one area may signal a larger issue.

Does the warranty cover fittings like taps, geysers and switches?

Usually not directly, because branded fittings carry the manufacturer’s own warranty, and a fair contract says so. The contractor remains responsible for installation, so a tap leaking at the wall joint is a workmanship issue even though a tap dripping from its own cartridge is a manufacturer issue. Ask for all fitting warranty cards and invoices at handover so both routes stay open to you.