How to File a Tarion Warranty Claim in Ontario: Step by Step

Discovering a defect in a new home is frustrating enough without also having to figure out the claims process. Tarion's statutory new home warranty system, administered under the Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act, follows a fairly structured sequence — but missing a step or a deadline can genuinely affect your rights, so it helps to understand the general shape of the process before you're in the middle of it.

Here's how filing a Tarion warranty claim generally works, step by step.

Step 1: Register and Set Up Your MyHome Account

Tarion administers claims through an online homeowner portal (MyHome). If you haven't already registered your new home there, that's the starting point — it's where your warranty timeline, required forms, and claim status are tracked.

Take a few minutes to confirm your possession date and warranty start date are recorded correctly in the portal. These dates drive every deadline that follows, so an error here can cascade into confusion later about which forms and windows apply to your home.

Step 2: Document the Defect Clearly

Before submitting anything, get the basics down in writing:

• What the defect is, specifically and factually
• Where it's located in the home
• When you first noticed it
• Dated photos, if possible

Vague descriptions slow down the process and make it harder for the builder — or Tarion, if it escalates — to assess the claim.

Step 3: Submit the Right Form for the Right Warranty Period

Tarion's claims process is tied to specific submission forms linked to your coverage timeline — commonly understood to include an early-occupancy form and a form submitted near the end of your first year, generally referred to as the 30-Day Form and the Year-End Form. Which form applies depends on when you discovered the issue relative to your possession date. Because these submission windows are time-sensitive and can affect whether an item remains eligible, confirm the current deadlines and required forms directly in your MyHome account rather than relying on a general guide.

Step 4: Give the Builder the Statutory Repair Period

Once a claim is submitted, the builder generally gets an opportunity to inspect and repair the identified items within a defined period. This step exists so builders can address legitimate issues directly, without every claim needing to escalate.

Keep track of what repairs are actually completed versus what's been promised — a defect that's "scheduled" isn't the same as one that's fixed.

Step 5: Request Conciliation If the Issue Isn't Resolved

If the builder doesn't complete the repairs, disputes that the item is covered, or you disagree about whether the work was done properly, Tarion offers a conciliation process — an independent review of the outstanding items. This is generally the next step after the builder's repair period has passed without resolution, rather than something you'd request at the very start.

What to Keep Track of Throughout

• [ ] Your possession date and warranty start date
• [ ] The current form and deadline that applies to each item you've identified
• [ ] Copies of everything submitted through MyHome
• [ ] Dates the builder inspected or attempted repairs
• [ ] Photos and written notes for every issue, updated as items change status
• [ ] Any correspondence with the builder outside the formal claim process

Keeping your own organized file — separate from what's in the portal — matters if a dispute drags on or escalates to conciliation.

Frequently asked questions