Latent Defects Insurance

Resilience Latent Defects Insurance is changing the way people buy off the plan property in Australia.

This insurance, currently only available through Resilience Insurance, provides off the plan apartment buyers with a 10-year warranty on their new apartment and the building it's situated in.

The cover is purchased by the property developer/builder (pre-construction) and is designed to protect owners against any immediate or future problems with the structural components of their new property, from leaks to cracks and everything in between.

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<h2>Boosting Confidence in Off the Plan Apartments</h2>

In this evolving market, developers and project managers have a unique opportunity to enhance buyer confidence and drive sales through LDI. Offering a 10-year warranty on structural components of new apartments, LDI covers issues from leaks to cracks, providing a robust solution that has been a global staple for over seventy years.

<h2>Advantages for Developers and Buyers</h2>

LDI is a game-changer for the off-the-plan market. By incorporating LDI, developers ensure buyers receive comprehensive protection from the moment they take possession. This coverage not only addresses post-completion structural defects but also issues arising during the construction phase. Leading developers like Abadeen, Deicorp, Kanebridge, and Coronation Property have adopted LDI, witnessing increased sales and property value.

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<h2>Building Market Confidence</h2>

Corey Nugent, CEO of Resilience Insurance and a pioneer of LDI in Australia, emphasises that LDI enhances the construction process and post-settlement phase. With expert partners involved from the beginning, LDI ensures quality and reliability, alleviating concerns about structural integrity. This proactive approach is crucial in a market where trust in delivery quality is paramount.

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<h2>Economic Impact and Market Leadership</h2>

According to a survey by MatterFact, 60% of potential buyers are willing to pay over 1.5% of the apartment price for LDI coverage, making it a cost-effective investment for developers. Projects with LDI have reported a 4-5% price increase compared to those without, highlighting the financial benefits for developers. NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler supports LDI, viewing it as a pivotal reform aligned with the state's commitment to improving construction standards and reducing litigation.

For property developers and project managers, integrating LDI into their offerings is not just about insurance—it's about positioning themselves as industry leaders dedicated to quality and buyer assurance. LDI boosts buyer confidence, enhances project marketability, and contributes to resolving Australia's housing crisis by making off-the-plan purchases more attractive and secure.

<h2>Read more about Resilience Insurance Latent Defects Insurance</h2>

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/what-is-latent-defects-insurance-and-is-it-bringing-confidence-to-the-off-the-plan-apartment-market">What is Latent Defects Insurance and is it bringing confidence to the off the plan apartment market?</a>

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/nsw/dcn-group-to-develop-first-bankstown-apartment-development-with-latent-defects-insurance">DCN Group to develop first Bankstown apartment development with Latent Defects Insurance</a> 
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For property developers and project managers, integrating LDI into their offerings is not just about insurance—it's about positioning themselves as industry leaders dedicated to quality and buyer assurance

Michael Bird

Everything an off the plan developer and buyer needs to know about Resilience Latent Defects Insurance

DCN Group has become the first developer in the Bankstown area to take out Resilience Insurance's Latent Defects Insurance (LDI).

Resilience LDI is a new insurance policy that protects off the plan apartment purchasers for 10 years post-completion of the building, accounting for any structural defects that may occur and covering the costs for buyers.

LDI is obtained by either the developer or builder before construction begins since this insurance covers the entire project lifecycle. It involves a thorough review of plans, specifications, and other documents, along with monthly inspections by independent technical inspectors, extending up to the certification of Practical Completion.

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/what-is-latent-defects-insurance-and-is-it-bringing-confidence-to-the-off-the-plan-apartment-market">What is Latent Defects Insurance and is it bringing confidence to the off the plan apartment market?</a>

DCN has taken the cover out on their new Bankstown project, The Hoskins, two buildings on Marshall Street with 44 apartments.&nbsp;

DCN Group Managing Director Nadim Saad said getting LDI was a step forward to leading the way.

"As builder-developer company since 1987, we've always stood by our product, and we know what we build is of a high standard. what having LDI does is it tells prospective buyers we are backing ourselves that our product is of high quality and that we're not going to cut and run when the project is finished."

LDI is only offered to developers and builders deemed trustworthy by the insurer, Resilience Insurance. To receive the insurance, the development must pass rigorous and regular assessments by independent technical inspectors SDSS to ensure the quality of the construction is upheld.

DCN was the second developer in Sydney to take out LDI, shortly after Urban Property Group.

"It's a great leap for the industry," Nadim says, with the insurance coming off the back of more accountability that has come in the off the plan development market from the Building Commissioner.&nbsp;

Saad says buyers are starting to become more educated on the off the plan apartment market.

While not yet in market, a prospective purchaser stopped at the site of The Hoskins, at 78-80 Marshall Street, and asked if they were iCIRT-rated and if they had LDI.

"It's not just about buying an apartment off the plan and hoping it gets built to the standard that you're promised. Now there are safeguards in place so that shouldn't happen, and buyers are now&nbsp;starting to understand what developers should have in place to protect their investment."

DCN Group has partnered up with construction consultants and SDSS to oversee the construction process.&nbsp;

<h2>What is Resilience LDI?</h2>

Resilience LDI is the first Latent Defects Insurance policy in Australia. The insurance provides off the plan apartment buyers with a 10-year warranty on their new apartment and the building it's situated in.

The cover is purchased by the property developer/builder (pre-construction) and is designed to protect owners against any immediate or future problems with the structural components of their new property, from leaks to cracks and everything in between.

For more information about Resilience LDI, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/what-is-latent-defects-insurance-and-is-it-bringing-confidence-to-the-off-the-plan-apartment-market">click here</a>.

DCN Constructions Managing Director Nadim Saad said getting LDI was a "no brainer."

Joel Robinson

DCN Group to develop first Bankstown apartment development with Latent Defects Insurance

Latent Defects Insurance (LDI), is changing the game for off the plan apartment buyers in Australia.

This insurance product provides off-the-plan apartment buyers with a 10-year warranty on their new apartment and the building it's situated in. The cover is purchased by the property developer/builder (pre-construction) and is designed to protect owners against any immediate or future problems with the structural components of their new property, from leaks to cracks and everything in between.

Some of Sydney’s biggest and most respected developers have embraced the new insurance. The likes of Deicorp, Kanebridge, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/abadeen-group">Abadeen</a>, Coronation Property and Urban Property Group have rolled out the insurance across some, if not all of the projects they’re currently undertaking.&nbsp;

Sydney-based Resilience Insurance, the first insurer to launch LDI in Australia, is now taking the product national, and is having conversations with developers in Melbourne, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Perth.&nbsp;

<h2>How does Latent Defects Insurance work?</h2>

Resilience Insurance CEO Corey Nugent says the insurance, which has been around for about seven decades across the globe, benefits both the purchaser and the developer.

“Ultimately what we’re trying to do is build better buildings the consumers can have trust in, but more importantly improve the post completion and settlement process, so that when buyers take possession, they have full insurance protection, from day one, for 10 years” Nugent says.

“The insurance protects the buyer from any structural defects in the building, and developers who have taken Resilience LDI have reported an uptick in both sales volumes and sale values compared to competing developments that don’t have Resilience LDI.”

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While giving confidence to the consumer at the end of the build, Resilience LDI is actually in place throughout the build process. Rather than it solely being used as a rectification product, the insurance kicks in to fix issues when they arise, rather than down the track following completion. Of course the insurance protects owners at that stage too, however the ideal scenario is any problems that come up during the building get fixed well before settlement.

Resilience has a string of expert partners who are onsite even before construction has started to ensure even the ground the development is being built on is structurally sound.

<h2>What does LDI mean for off the plan apartment buyers?</h2>

A survey undertaken by MatterFact, Urban.com.au’s data product, shows the biggest thing holding back prospective purchasers from buying an off the plan apartment is the trust and faith they have in the developer, followed closely by the concern the build won’t be of good quality. It was a common consensus on the survey conducted from state to state, where delivery was much more of an issue raised compared to budgets, approvals or price of the apartment.

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“LDI is about to change the game in the off the plan apartment market,” Urban.com.au CEO Mike Bird says, adding that the insurance will be a huge boost to helping solve Australia’s housing crisis.

“With the large imbalance of supply and demand in Australia, there has to be a move to off the plan apartments, but to get there, consumers need to be more confident in delivery.

“Unfortunately the industry has been tarnished by a small number of developers who haven’t acted on behalf of the consumer in the last five years or so. Developers who have Resilience LDI are telling consumers that they’re in a partnership with them, and they will deliver the quality that they promised. If they don’t, then the insurance protects the purchaser, without all the trials and tribulations of litigations and long, drawn out court cases which often cost thousands of dollars as well as significant upheaval whether it be mental or physical.

<h2>How does Latent Defects Insurance impact the developer?</h2>

Data collected by MatterFact also showed 60 per cent of off the plan apartment seekers would pay over 1.5 per cent of the apartment price for it to have LDI cover, which typically outweighs how much it costs a developer to purchase Resilience LDI.&nbsp;

Nugent says there have been instances already where developers have reported prices with a four to five per cent increase due to them having LDI, compared to similar projects in the same area.

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While there’s been a handful of progressive new tools to try and build confidence in the off the plan industry, such as the iCIRT-rating system and KMPG’s Building Trustworthy Indicator, no one has gone as far as Resilience LDI in terms of actual protection for an off the plan apartment buyer.

NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler recently lauded the introduction of LDI, suggesting it will improve the design and construction of apartment buildings in NSW.

“These reforms have come about due to the united commitment of government and industry to transform the NSW construction sector,” Chandler said.

“NSW is now in the position of being a national leader in offering an insurance product of this type for Class 2 buildings because of the three years of conscious effort and commitment by Government and industry to the journey we have been on under Construct NSW.

“We’re looking to clean up the market and bring an end to expensive litigation against developers who have deep pockets or subsequently vanish into thin air.”

To find out more about Resilience LDI, <a href="https://resilienceinsurance.com.au/">click here</a>.

Resilience Insurance CEO Corey Nugent says the insurance, which has been around for about seven decades across the globe, benefits both the purchaser and the developer

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