Warranty Terms to Know

Administrator

Look at the front cover of your warranty book. If your warranty was issued by Residential Warranty Company, LLC, (RWC), then RWC is the Administrator of your Limited Warranty. (If your Texas warranty was issued by HOME of Texas (HOME), then HOME is the Administrator. If your HUD-Code manufactured home warranty was issued by MHWC, then MHWC is the Administrator. Click the link for the Warranty Company that has issued your home’s warranty.) The Administrator is neither the Warrantor nor the Insurer.

Arbitrator

The person appointed by the independent arbitration service to resolve an Unresolved Warranty Issue.

Builder

The person, corporation, partnership or other entity which participates in the RWC Limited Warranty Program and has obtained this Limited Warranty for you.

Home (or Residence)

The single family dwelling identified on the Application for Warranty form (which may be a townhome, condominium or duplex under RWC).

Insurer

Western Pacific Mutual Insurance Company, a Risk Retention Group (WPMIC). (Refer to your specific warranty book for instructions on requesting warranty performance.)

Purchaser (or Owner)

The Purchaser includes the first buyer of the warranted Home and any and all subsequent Owners who take title within the warranty period.

Warrantor

The Warrantor is either your Builder for the time period specified in your warranty book or the Insurer. Refer to the warranty book issued for your property for the exact terms of responsibility.

Application for Enrollment

The form signed at closing by you, the Purchaser, and your Builder which identifies the location, the Effective Date of Warranty and the Final Sales Price of the enrolled Home. If the Builder is participating in the RWC electronic enrollment process, the Application for Enrollment form is eliminated. This information will be included on your Warranty Confirmation.

Effective Date of Warranty

The date coverage begins as specified on the Application for Warranty form or on your Warranty Confirmation if your Builder is participating in the electronic enrollment process.

Limited Warranty

The terms and conditions contained in the warranty book issued for a specific property including any applicable addenda.

Warranty Confirmation

The document the homeowner obtains by going to confirm.rwcwarranty.com. It includes your Validation Number, Effective Date of Warranty, Term of Coverage and any applicable Addenda.

RWC offers 2 basic types of structural coverage. The type of structural coverage provided for a specific home is described in detail in the warranty book provided to you by your Builder at closing.

Major Structural Defect (MSD) Warranty Coverage

Major Structural Defect (MSD) Warranty Coverage is based on the building industry’s accepted definition of a potential structural failure.  All of the following conditions must be met to constitute a Major Structural Defect:

1. actual physical damage to one or more of the following specified load-bearing components of the Home;
2. causing the failure of the specific major structural components; and
3. which affects its load-bearing function to the degree that it materially affects the physical safety of the occupants of the Home.

Load-bearing components of the Home deemed to have MSD potential: roof framing members (rafters and trusses); floor framing members (joists and trusses); bearing walls; columns; lintels (other than lintels supporting veneers); girders; load-bearing beams; and foundation systems and footings.

Examples of non-load-bearing elements deemed not to have Major Structural Defect potential: non-load-bearing partitions and walls; wall tile or paper, etc.; plaster, laths or drywall; flooring and subflooring material; brick, stucco, stone, veneer, or exterior wall sheathing; any type of exterior siding; roof shingles, sheathing* and tar paper; Heating, Cooling, Ventilating, Plumbing, Electrical and mechanical systems; Appliances, fixtures or Items of Equipment; and doors, windows, trim, cabinets, hardware, insulation, paint and stains.

Check the warranty book issued specifically for your home for details. If you did not receive a sample book prior to closing, need help confirming your warranty or have lost your copy, contact RWC for assistance.

Designated Structural Element (DSE) Warranty Coverage

Designated Structural Element (DSE) Warranty Coverage is based on a set of measureable tolerance guidelines for evaluation of a potential structural failure.

Those items defined specifically in the Limited Warranty Standards provided that the element is load-bearing to the Home itself. A load-bearing structural element is one of the Designated Structural Elements listed in the Limited Warranty Standards, the principal purpose of which is to support designed dead loads in addition to its own weight. For example, floating slabs and partition walls that are not designed to carry any load other than their own are not loadbearing structural elements. This Warranty is limited to ONLY those Designated Structural Elements of the Home which exceed the tolerances explicitly set forth in the Limited Warranty Standards.

Example of DSE standards (see your warranty book for the complete list):

Observation: Concrete beam/structural cracks.
Action Required: Warrantor will correct structural cracks which exceed 1/8 in. in width.
Comments: Common shrinkage and non-structural cracks are normal and should be expected.

Appliances and Items of Equipment, including Attachments and Appurtenances

Water heaters, pumps, stoves, refrigerators, compactors, garbage disposals, ranges, dishwashers, washers and dryers, bathtubs, sinks, commodes, faucets, light fixtures, switches, outlets, thermostats, furnaces and oil tanks, humidifiers, oil purifiers, air conditioning materials, in-house sprinkler systems and similar items.

Arbitration

If resolution is not reached during mediation, the next step is arbitration, a formal process conducted by an independent, neutral arbitrator to resolve disputes. We use arbitrators experienced in arbitrating residential construction matters. Unless prohibited by law, the decision of the arbitrator under our programs is binding on all parties, including both you and your Builder. There is a fee for the arbitration which is paid according to the terms spelled out in your warranty document.

Consequential Damages

All consequential damages including, but not limited to, damage to the Home that is caused by a warranted Defect but is not itself a warranted Defect and costs of shelter, transportation, food, moving, storage or other incidental expenses related to relocation during repairs.

Cooling, Ventilating and Heating Systems

All ductwork, refrigerant lines, steam and water pipes, registers, convectors and dampers.

Defect

A condition of any item warranted by this Limited Warranty which exceeds the allowable tolerance specified in this Limited Warranty. Failure to complete construction of the Home or any portion of the Home, in whole or in part, is not considered a Defect.

Deflection (Check your specific warranty book for applicability.)

A turning or bending of a Designated Structural Element from its original position. Deflection is measured from any two end points and a third reference point. The reference point may be located at any distance between the two end points.

Electrical Systems

All wiring, electrical boxes and connections up to the house side of the meter base.

Mediation

We know that, in the majority of cases, the root of many disputes is the lack of communication between a Builder and a Homeowner. Sometimes, all it takes to get an issue resolved is someone to take on the role of mediator and assist the others in coming to a fair and reasonable agreement, based on the warranty standards provided. Prior to heading to formal arbitration or costly litigation, RWC does its best to mediate disputes between Members and Homeowners. Mediation is an informal process involving the Builder, the Homeowner and the Warranty Company during the Builder’s term of responsibility. There is no charge to either side to this initial process.

Plumbing Systems

All pipes located within the Home and their fittings, including gas supply lines and vent pipes.

Sewage Disposal System (Private or Public)

This system includes, but is not limited to, all waste, drainage, sewer pipes and lines, cleanouts, tanks, pumps, drainfields and seepage pits, outside and beyond the exterior wall of the Home.

Structurally Attached

This system includes, but is not limited to, all waste, drainage, sewer pipes and lines, cleanouts, tanks, pumps, drainfields and seepage pits, outside and beyond the exterior wall of the Home.

Unresolved Warranty Issue

All requests for warranty performance, demands, disputes, controversies and differences that may arise between the parties to this Limited Warranty that cannot be resolved among the parties. An Unresolved Warranty Issue may be a disagreement regarding:

1. the coverages in this Limited Warranty;
2. an action performed or to be performed by any party pursuant to this Limited Warranty;
3. the cost to repair or replace any item covered by this Limited Warranty.

Water Supply System (Private or Public)

This system includes, but is not limited to, all supply and distribution pipes, fittings, valves, pumps and wells, outside the exterior wall of the Home, which supply water to the Home.