Administered by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC), the scheme had $24.8 million in non-completion claims, $27 million in defect claims and $3.9 million for subsidence-related claims, approved last financial year.
Almost 200,000 QHWS policies were issued during the period, providing home owners around the state with valuable financial protection while building or renovating.
QBCC CEO and Commissioner, Angelo Lambrinos, said the results demonstrated why the QHWS offered one of the strongest consumer protection measures in Australia.
"Building or renovating a home is one of the biggest financial commitments most Queenslanders will ever make, and when something goes wrong the impacts can be significant," Mr Lambrinos said.
"The QHWS provides compulsory government financial protection for Queenslanders undertaking eligible residential construction work, giving eligible home owners peace of mind that support is available if their project is affected by incomplete work, serious defects or other unexpected issues."
Mr Lambrinos said Queensland's first-resort approach was a key factor in its effectiveness.
"This means eligible home owners may be able to access assistance without first having to pursue lengthy and costly legal action against their builder.
"That can make an enormous difference for families trying to get their project completed and move forward after an unexpected setback."
The QHWS applies to eligible residential construction work valued at more than $3,300, including materials, labour and GST.
Mr Lambrinos said that while statistics demonstrated that most building projects are completed successfully, the scheme remains an important safety net when problems arise.
"We issue around 150,000 home warranty scheme policies every year and there are approximately 900,000 active policies across Queensland at any given time," he said.
"Importantly, fewer than two per cent of active policies result in a claim each year, which reflects the fact that the overwhelming majority of residential building work is completed without the need for home warranty assistance."
During 2025-26, the QBCC received almost 1,970 claims under the scheme, and issued 1,374 Directions to Rectify defective building work to the contractors responsible for the work, to help resolve building issues as quickly as possible.
Mr Lambrinos encouraged anyone planning to build or renovate to understand the protections available to them before work begins. Although the QHWS provides an important safety net for Queenslanders building or renovating, it is not a commercial insurance policy, in the same way that your car may be insured for market value or your home and contents are insured for replacement value. There are strict eligibility requirements and tight timeframes that apply and are important to understand upfront.
"Consumers can help protect themselves by using a QBCC-licensed contractor, obtaining multiple quotes, seeking contractor testimonials and checking previous work, ensuring there is a lawful contract in place detailing dates, work scope and values, keeping all records, and confirming they receive their QHWS Notice of Cover.
"The QBCC Home Owner Hub is also a valuable resource, providing practical guidance to help Queenslanders navigate every stage of their building or renovation journey."
For more information about the QHWS, visit www.qbcc.qld.gov.au.
