HII (Home Indemnity Insurance)
Home Indemnity Insurance (HII) is WA's mandatory protection for residential building work over $20,000. Covers the owner if the builder dies or disappears.
Ask Chalkline about this →Home Indemnity Insurance (HII) is Western Australia’s mandatory consumer protection scheme for residential building contracts valued over $20,000. It is governed by the Home Building Contracts Act 1991 (WA) and administered through approved insurers. The policy is issued in the owner’s name, not the builder’s, and must be obtained before the builder accepts any payment (including the deposit) or commences work.
HII covers the owner if the registered builder dies, disappears, or becomes insolvent before completing the work, or if the Building Services Board cancels the builder’s registration on financial grounds. Coverage runs from commencement through to six years after practical completion, protecting subsequent purchasers as well as the original owner.
Associated-works-only contracts (swimming pool installation, kitchen cabinetry, landscaping) are exempt from the HII requirement.
Also known as: builders warranty insurance (WA)
Category: Insurance / consumer protection
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Last updated: 2026-05-08. Verified: 2026-05-08. Quarterly review for currency.