10 year Structural Defect Insurance is a specialist insurance product that provides cover for new build and converted properties that are less than 10 years old and is a form of cover required by the majority of mortgage lenders before they release funds to purchase the property.Structural Defect Insurance protects the home owner for a period of 10 years against structural defects in the build for 10 years from date of completion. Possibly defects that may arise include subsidence, shrinkage, water ingress or structurally unsound.