How Should Alberta Protect New Homebuyers?
Official title: New homebuyer protection engagement
Why This Matters
Buying a new home is one of the biggest purchases you'll ever make. If something goes wrong—foundation cracks, leaky windows, faulty wiring—you need warranty protection that actually works. This review looked at whether Alberta's rules are doing enough to protect buyers from shoddy construction.
What Could Change
The feedback is informing updates to the New Home Buyer Protection Act and related programs. Alberta has already released new guidelines on warranty claims and disputes. Further changes to builder licensing requirements or warranty coverage could follow.
Key Issues
- Are current warranty protections adequate for new homebuyers?
- Do Albertans understand how to navigate warranty claims?
- What defines a construction defect under warranty?
- Is the claims dispute resolution process working?
How to Participate
- This consultation is now closed. Review the What We Heard report to see what Albertans said.
- Contact the Residential Protection Program at rpp@gov.ab.ca or call [1-866-421-6929](tel:+18664216929) if you have questions about new home warranty or builder licensing.
What Happened
Albertans shared feedback through an online survey from November 24 to December 22, 2022, plus targeted stakeholder sessions. Key themes: buyers want homes built right the first time rather than needing repairs; everyone needs clearer guidance on navigating warranties and understanding what counts as a defect; warranties need to work reliably for buyers, builders, and providers alike.