Domestic Building Insurance and Home Warranty

Victoria is moving from Domestic Building Insurance to Home Warranty for new eligible domestic building work.

The scheme that applies depends on when your building contract was signed and when your insurance cover was issued.

Domestic Building Insurance

Domestic Building Insurance, often called DBI, may apply to domestic building work carried out under contracts signed before 1 July 2026.

If you have a DBI Certificate of Insurance issued before 1 July 2026, your cover continues under your DBI policy.

DBI was required for domestic building work valued over $16,000.

For homes up to three storeys, DBI has generally provided cover of up to $300,000 for loss suffered because your builder:

• died
• disappeared
• became insolvent.

Your DBI cover does not transfer to Home Warranty.

Home Warranty

Home Warranty starts on 1 July 2026.

It applies to new eligible domestic building work under eligible contracts signed on or after 1 July 2026.

Home Warranty applies to eligible domestic building work valued at more than $20,000.

Home Warranty may provide broader protection than DBI. It may apply where eligible domestic building work is incomplete, defective or non-compliant and the builder fails or refuses to complete or fix the work.

It is not limited to situations where the builder has died, disappeared or become insolvent.

The maximum amount of assistance available under Home Warranty is $400,000 in total per home, subject to eligibility, limits and exclusions.

From 1 July 2026, BPC provides Home Warranty for new eligible domestic building work. Existing DBI policies continue under their current terms and conditions.

Which scheme applies to me?

If your contract was signed before 1 July 2026 and you have a DBI Certificate of Insurance, your cover continues under DBI.

If your eligible contract is signed on or after 1 July 2026, Home Warranty may apply.