A construction defects claim is a demand on a developer or contractor to repair, or pay for, faults in a building’s construction. It is how owners enforce their rights when defects appear, particularly major or structural ones.
Where you’ll see it
You’ll see such claims when defects emerge after handover — water ingress, structural cracks, failed systems. In the UAE, developers and contractors carry liability for defects for a period after completion, with extended liability for major structural defects.
Why it matters
A defects claim is how an owner gets serious faults fixed without bearing the cost themselves. Acting within the applicable liability period, with proper evidence, is essential — rights to claim can lapse, and documentation makes or breaks the case.
What it is not
A construction defects claim is not a complaint about fair wear and tear or owner-caused damage — it concerns genuine construction faults. It is also distinct from snagging, which identifies issues; the claim is the enforcement step.
Example
An owner discovers structural cracking within the statutory liability period and brings a construction defects claim, supported by an engineer’s report, requiring the developer to carry out the repairs.
Connected documents and parties
Defect reports, engineer assessments, SPA, handover records; owner, developer, contractor, authorities or courts.
Going deeper: related reading: defect liability period.
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