Zurich Building Guarantee

Midas Homes is registered with Zurich Building Guarantee as a developer and builder and therefore we design and build in accordance with both Building Regulations and Zurich 's own additional requirements. At critical stages during construction Zurich 's Surveyors inspect every home covered by their warranty in order to ensure as far as possible that the work complies with their required standards.

Who and what is Zurich?

Zurich is a global insurance based financial services company established in Switzerland in 1872 and now has offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and other markets. Zurich’s 55,000 employees serve customers in more than 120 countries and started operating in the UK in more than 84 years ago, in 1922. They are the largest general insurer in the UK to offer a new home warranty and are controlled and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Backed by wide and extensive experience, Zurich’s requirements are extensively researched and kept up to date in order to minimise the risk of defects or inappropriate materials causing problems. We are kept informed of changes and work with Zurich to ensure that we comply and together strive to promote good practice in our industry.

When Zurich are satisfied with what we have built they provide us with the Zurich 10 warranty, which we then give to you. The warranty covers your home and whoever may buy it from you in the future for a period of 10 years from when you exchanged contracts with us for your new Midas Home.

For full details of the warranty you must read your policy documents and there is also guidance your Zurich Home Owner’s Guide. The policy and Zurich’s requirements can be found on the web site at www.zurich.co.uk/buildingguarantee.

Briefly the Zurich 10 warranty provides:

• Cover for you against the loss of your contract exchange deposit in the unlikely event that we should become insolvent
• For the first 2 years after you exchange contracts we are responsible under the warranty for the repair of physical damage caused by construction defects, but if we are insolvent or refuse to do necessary work Zurich will cover you
• After the first 2 years the remaining period of the warranty is insured by Zurich and covers the cost of repairing physical damage to the structure of your home caused by construction defects

Important Note:

It is essential that you check your policy and the insurance certificate that comes with it for full and accurate details of the cover that applies to your home.

Your solicitor has been asked to provide Zurich with your details, and although not necessary for you to benefit from the warranty cover the information helps us and Zurich to provide you with the level of support and service you should expect.

Disputes and Warranty Claims

If we cannot reach an amicable settlement in a dispute between us about the need for a repair under the warranty that you reported to us in writing in the first 2 years Zurich will appoint independent loss adjusters to inspect. Based on their report Zurich will determine if warranty cover applies. If we disagree with their conclusions Zurich will carry out the recommended repairs themselves as a claim under the policy, if you disagree you may either ask for decision by an adjudicator appointed by the Chartered Institute of Building. Alternatively, or in addition, you may also refer the claim to the Insurance Ombudsman, Zurich will accept the decision in either case.

If you believe you may have a claim under the warranty at any time within the 10 year period you should report it to Zurich. Details of how to make a claim are in your warranty documents or can be found on Zurich’s web site.

(Please note that in certain situations we use NHBC rather than Zurich. In such cases you will be given separate details and reference to Zurich does not apply to you).