Domestic building insurance

Lift the lid on construction. Here's how we protect you.

Every Victorian builder must carry warranty insurance. Almost none of them tell you how much. Here's ours, what it covers, and the one question to ask any builder before you sign.

What it is

Insurance that pays if your builder can't.

Domestic Building Insurance (DBI) is a legal requirement in Victoria for any residential work over $16,000. It protects you if your builder dies, disappears or becomes insolvent and can't finish the job or fix defects.

What most people don't know is that every builder has a facility limit — the maximum value of work the insurer will back them for at any one time. It's set by the insurer after examining the builder's finances. A small limit means a builder can only carry a few jobs at once, and yours might be the one over the line.

Lambert York's facility is $20 million. It was assessed and approved in 2023 and is reviewed annually.

Indicative comparison

How $20M compares.

Figures for other builders are typical ranges from the Melbourne market. Ask for the actual number — it's on their insurer's letter of eligibility.

Lambert York$20M
Typical high-end builder$7M
Typical boutique builder$4M
Typical volume builder$2M
What it covers

Your project, in full.

A large facility means the insurer has assessed the business as financially strong enough to carry large, complex jobs safely. For you, it means one thing: the whole project is covered, not a share of it.

Insurer assessed · Reviewed annuallyCertificate of eligibility

Lambert York Construction Pty Ltd

Facility limit$20,000,000
Cover typeDomestic Building Insurance (VIC)
RegistrationVBA · DB-U ######
Per-project coverUp to $300K statutory + full facility backing
CoversNon-completion · Defects · Insolvency
IssuedPer project, before deposit

Registration and policy details to be confirmed with the current insurer's letter before publishing.

Pat · "Ask them this one question"Coming soon · 8 min
Watch

The one question to ask any builder.

Pat explains what a facility limit is, why builders don't volunteer it, and what to do if the answer is a shrug.

Warranty questions

Straight answers.

Does a bigger facility mean I pay more?+

No. The DBI premium on your project is set by the insurer based on the contract value, not the builder's facility size. You pay the same premium either way; you just get a better-backed builder.

Is this the same as a structural guarantee?+

No. Victorian law already gives you a 10-year implied warranty on structural work and 2 years on non-structural. DBI is the insurance that pays out if the builder isn't around to honour those warranties.

When do I get the certificate?+

Before you pay a deposit. It's illegal for a builder to take a deposit without issuing the DBI certificate for your project. If a builder asks for money first, that's your answer.

Build with the best-backed boutique builder in Melbourne.

Schedule a consultation ↗03 9000 0000 · hello@lambertyork.com
Call PatEnquire ↗