Warranty After Handover: What Your Builder Covers and for How Long

The day you receive the keys feels like the end of your home construction in Mysuru, but in practice it opens a new stage. For the first monsoon, the first summer and the first year of daily use, your house is still settling in. Hairline cracks appear, a tap drips, a door starts to stick when the humidity rises. How those small problems get fixed depends almost entirely on what your builder promised in writing about the period after handover.

This article explains what a post-handover warranty normally covers, what it usually leaves out, how long different kinds of cover tend to run, and the questions to settle before you sign the construction agreement.

We use Uniq Builders’ own terms as a worked example, so you can compare any builder’s offer clearly.

The two kinds of cover you should expect

A good construction contract separates two things that people often lump together.

The workmanship warranty. This is the builder’s promise that the work was done properly to the agreed specification. If a defect traces back to poor workmanship, such as a badly laid floor tile that lifts, plaster that debonds, or a leaking joint in concealed plumbing, the builder puts it right at their own cost.

Free service after handover. This is a practical support period during which the builder sends people to attend to snags and adjustments that are normal in a new building. Think of loose hinges or a shrunken sealant line.

At Uniq Builders, every package includes both: a workmanship warranty after handover, and one year of free service. Whichever builder you choose, ask them to name both separately in the agreement so there is no confusion later about which one applies to a given complaint.

What a warranty typically covers, and what it does not

As a general guide, these items usually fall within a builder’s responsibility when the cause is workmanship:

• Structural cracks caused by construction faults, as distinct from normal shrinkage cracks in plaster
• Leakage through the roof slab, sunken toilet areas or external walls
• Concealed plumbing and drainage failures inside walls and floors
• Electrical wiring faults inside conduits
• Flooring, dado and skirting that lift or hollow out
• Doors and windows that were installed out of line

These items are usually excluded, and it helps to know why:

• Damage from alterations. If you later cut a wall for a new AC line or change the bathroom layout with another contractor, the builder cannot be responsible for what follows.
• Normal wear and tear. Scuffed paint and worn grout from daily use are maintenance, not defects.
• Brand-covered products. Pumps, water heaters, fans, sanitary fittings and modular hardware usually carry their own manufacturer warranty. The builder should hand over the invoices and warranty cards so you can claim directly.
• Misuse or lack of upkeep. Blocked drains, or loads the design did not allow for.
• Natural hairline cracks. Fine cracks at the junction of concrete and masonry are common in new buildings as materials dry and move. They are not a sign of structural failure.

How long cover usually lasts

There is no single duration that every builder in Mysuru follows, which is exactly why you should get the period written down.

Free service periods are commonly set at around one year, because a full cycle of seasons reveals most settling issues. Uniq Builders offers one year of free service after handover.

Workmanship warranties vary more widely between builders and between types of work. Some contracts give different periods for structure, waterproofing and finishing items. Ask your builder to state the period for each category, and confirm whether any cover depends on you carrying out routine maintenance.

Legal liability is a separate matter. Depending on whether your project is a registered real estate development or a private house built on your own plot, statutory rules on defect liability may apply. The rules and periods can change, so confirm how they apply to your situation with an advocate rather than relying on a builder’s summary.

Questions to settle before you sign

Before signing, work through this list:

1. Is the workmanship warranty written into the agreement, with its scope and period stated clearly?
2. When does the clock start? It should be the documented handover date, not the date the structure was completed.
3. How do you raise a complaint? A phone number, email or WhatsApp line, and a named contact, makes follow-up simple.
4. What response do they commit to?
5. Will you receive a handover file? It should include as-built drawings, plumbing and electrical routes, material brands and all product warranty cards.
6. Is there a joint snag inspection before handover?

The written specification matters here too. A warranty can only be judged against what was promised, so the materials, brands and finishes listed in the specification become the benchmark for any later claim. Uniq Builders shares a written specification during consultation for each of its construction packages, and the final figure is confirmed after a free site visit.

Looking after your home during the first year

A warranty works best when you keep a simple record. Photograph any crack or damp patch with the date, note when it appeared, and report it promptly rather than waiting for a list to build up. Water problems in particular get worse with time.

Keep terrace drains clear before the rains and avoid drilling near known pipe routes without checking the as-built drawings. If you plan changes later, involve the original builder where possible so warranty responsibility stays clear. Uniq Builders also takes up renovation and interiors for existing homes through its residential construction service and related teams.

For more guidance on each stage of building a house in the region, browse our home construction in Mysuru articles. If you want to go through warranty and service terms before committing, you can book a free consultation and site visit with the Mysuru office in Vani Vilas Mohalla, or call +91 98449 93200, Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

Frequently asked questions

Does a builder’s warranty cover cracks in a new house?

It depends on the cause. Cracks from construction faults, such as poor bonding or structural movement due to workmanship, normally fall under the workmanship warranty. Fine hairline cracks from materials drying out are common and are usually attended to during the free service period rather than treated as defects.

Who handles faults in fittings like pumps and water heaters after handover?

Branded equipment is usually covered by its manufacturer’s warranty, not the builder’s. Your builder should give you the invoices and warranty cards at handover so you can claim directly. Faults in how the item was installed, however, are the builder’s responsibility.

What after-handover support does Uniq Builders provide?

Every Uniq Builders package includes a workmanship warranty after handover and one year of free service. A written specification is shared during consultation, and you can go through the after-handover terms at the free site visit.