Sued over a job you finished four years ago? Check the clock first

An old claim is still urgent

A former customer saying your finished work is defective can feel unfair and suddenly personal. But the age of the job does not make the claim go away. In NSW, building complaints are still tied to statutory warranty time limits, and those limits are measured from completion of the work, not from when the allegation lands on your desk. ([nsw.gov.au](https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/building-commission/about-us/building-defect-complaints?utm_source=openai))

That is why the first move is not a debate about workmanship. It is a date check. If the work is outside the relevant period, that changes the conversation. If it is still in time, you need to treat the matter as live and start collecting proof immediately so you are not rebuilding the file under pressure. ([nsw.gov.au](https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/building-commission/about-us/building-defect-complaints?utm_source=openai))

Pin down the completion date and the rule that applies

Start with the completion date. Use the contract, practical completion records, handover notes, invoices, occupation or completion documents, sign-offs and photos to narrow it down. NSW guidance says the time limits run from completion of the work, and for incomplete work they can run from termination or the date work stopped. ([nsw.gov.au](https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/building-commission/about-us/building-defect-complaints?utm_source=openai))

For NSW residential building work, the official guidance says the statutory warranty periods are six years for major defects and two years for all other defects, with an extra six months in some cases if the defect becomes apparent late in the warranty period. The safe habit is to check the local rule first, then test the facts against it. ([nsw.gov.au](https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/building-commission/about-us/building-defect-complaints?utm_source=openai))

Source: Official guidance

Find the records before the trail goes cold

Old claims are often decided by the quality of the file, not by memory. Pull the quote, contract, variations, progress claims, inspection notes, photos, delivery dockets, texts, emails and any defect list. Keep them together so the sequence is clear, and do not rely on a loose collection of screenshots that does not show the full story. ([nsw.gov.au](https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/compliance-and-regulation/your-obligations-to-your-customers/resolving-disputes?utm_source=openai))

Also gather the everyday records that show how the job really ended: site diary entries, completion emails, payment records and any messages about access, delays or rework. If there is a gap, mark it honestly. A clear gap is better than a guess, because a guessed chronology can create a second problem when you later need to explain it. ([nsw.gov.au](https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/building-commission/about-us/building-defect-complaints?utm_source=openai))

Tell the insurers, including older policy years

Do not assume the current policy is the only one that matters. A completed-work claim can turn on an earlier policy year, depending on when the work was done and when the problem is said to have arisen. NSW insurance guidance and time-limit material both point to checking cover and act quickly once a claim is on foot. ([nsw.gov.au](https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/building-or-renovating-a-home/protecting-yourself-case-of-builder-insolvency?utm_source=openai))

Notify your current insurer, your broker and any past insurer that may be relevant to the job. Keep proof of every notification and keep the claim papers with it. That does not guarantee cover. It does make it much easier to show that you raised the issue promptly instead of leaving the insurer to find out later. ([nsw.gov.au](https://www.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-construction/building-or-renovating-a-home/protecting-yourself-case-of-builder-insolvency?utm_source=openai))

Diarise the deadline and get the next step moving

Write down every date in the papers: when the demand arrived, any response date, any inspection date and any tribunal or court date mentioned. Use more than one reminder system. NSW guidance says if warranty time limits have passed, the complaint may fall outside the available process, so the deadline question needs immediate attention. ([nsw.gov.au](https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/building-commission/about-us/building-defect-complaints?utm_source=openai))

If you need help sorting the claim, call CRP today about legal intervention. Bring the papers, your best completion date and the records you have found so the discussion starts with facts, not guesswork. CRP coordinates independent qualified professionals. This article is general information only and is not legal advice. ([nsw.gov.au](https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/building-commission/about-us/building-defect-complaints?utm_source=openai))