Tarion's 30-Day, Mid-Year and Year-End Forms in Ontario: What New Home Buyers Can Submit

New home buyers in Ontario aren't just entitled to Tarion warranty coverage — they're expected to actively use it, on a schedule. For homes with possession on or after May 1, 2024, three forms, generally known as the 30-Day Form, the Mid-Year Form and the Year-End Form, are the standard mechanism for reporting defects during your first year of coverage. Miss the window for one, and items you'd otherwise be entitled to claim can be harder to pursue later.

Here's how the forms generally differ, and why Ontario’s Tarion process uses three instead of one.

Why Three Forms Instead of One

The logic behind splitting first-year reporting into three forms is timing. Some defects show up almost immediately after you move in — a door that doesn't close properly, a fixture that wasn't finished. Others only become apparent after living in the home through different seasons, or simply take longer to notice. A single reporting point early in the year would miss the second category; a single reporting point at the end of the year would leave early issues unresolved for months. Three forms, submitted at different points, are meant to catch both.

The 30-Day Form

The 30-Day Form is generally understood as the first of the three submissions, intended to capture defects you identify shortly after taking possession — building on whatever was already noted at your pre-delivery inspection, plus anything you discover in the initial period of living in the home.

Because this form is submitted early, it tends to capture items that are easiest to point to clearly: finishing issues, functional problems with fixtures and appliances installation, and similar early-occupancy items.

The Mid-Year Form

The Mid-Year Form sits between the 30-Day Form and the Year-End Form. Items found in the middle of the year go on this form, so that the Year-End Form can catch what was not reported on either earlier form. The mid-year period ends on the 183rd day.

The Year-End Form

The Year-End Form is generally understood as the last submission, intended to capture items identified in the second half of your first year — including issues that only became apparent with time, seasonal changes, or extended use (a leak that only shows up during heavy rain, for example, or an HVAC issue that only surfaces once you've run the system through a full season).

The year-end period begins after the mid-year period ends on the 183rd day and runs to the first anniversary of possession. This form is your opportunity to catch everything that wasn’t already reported on an earlier form, before your first-year warranty period closes out.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Because exact submission windows and current deadlines are managed through your MyHome account and can be time-sensitive, confirm the specific dates that apply to your home directly with Tarion rather than relying on a general description.

What Happens If You Miss a Form

Missing a form's window doesn't necessarily mean every related item is permanently lost, but it does put you in a weaker position — some issues may fall outside what you can still claim, or may need to wait for a later warranty period (if they qualify at all) rather than being addressed promptly. If you think you've missed a deadline, the right move is to check your MyHome account and, where the stakes are meaningful, get advice rather than assuming the door is closed.

Frequently asked questions