GCR New-Home Warranty in Quebec

In short — The Garantie de construction résidentielle (GCR — Quebec's mandatory new-home warranty administrator) oversees the mandatory warranty plan for new residential buildings in Quebec. It protects the buyer of a new home — including a factory-built home — against certain problems: loss of a deposit, non-completion of work, and defects that appear after delivery, within defined timelines. A new factory-built or modular home built by an accredited contractor is covered just like any other new home; a home you build yourself is generally not.

In Quebec, a new-home warranty is not simply a sales argument: it is a mandatory plan, governed by regulation and administered by the GCR. For anyone buying a factory-built home, understanding this protection is just as important as comparing prices — it is what protects you if something goes wrong.

What the warranty covers (the main components)

The warranty plan protects the buyer at several stages of the project. The following components should be confirmed against the current regulation:

The exact timelines and scope are set by the Règlement sur le plan de garantie des bâtiments résidentiels neufs — verify them with the GCR for your specific situation.

Does the GCR apply to a factory-built home?

Yes, in principle: a new factory-built or modular home is a new home. What determines coverage is not the method of manufacture, but who builds it and what is being built:

• the building must be an eligible new residential building as defined by the regulation;
• it must be built by a contractor accredited under the warranty plan.

One point of vigilance specific to modular: make sure you know who is the responsible contractor (the manufacturer, a general contractor, or yourself?). That responsibility is what conditions coverage. To distinguish the roles clearly, see our guide to factory-built, prefab and modular homes.

Warranty, RBQ licence and contract: three different things

They are often confused. The RBQ licence certifies that a contractor has the right to practise; the warranty plan (GCR) protects the buyer after the fact; the contract defines what you are buying. The three are verified separately:

• Confirm the contractor's RBQ licence — see our RBQ and Building Code guide.
• Confirm their accreditation under the warranty plan.
• Read the contract before signing — our clauses to check and our guidance on choosing a builder.