New building still under warranty — do I still need a maintenance contract (AMC)?

Short answer: a warranty and an AMC are DIFFERENT things and you usually need BOTH. A WARRANTY (or defects-liability period) covers FAULTS/DEFECTS — if something fails because of faulty workmanship, materials or the product, the contractor/manufacturer fixes it free within the period. An AMC covers PLANNED MAINTENANCE — the scheduled servicing (cleaning, checks, consumables) that keeps equipment running and prevents failures. The critical catch: most warranties REQUIRE the equipment to be properly maintained/serviced to stay valid — so if you skip servicing to "save money during warranty," you can VOID the warranty, and then a failure is on you. So during warranty you still need maintenance done (an AMC, or the developer's provider); what the warranty saves you is paying for the DEFECT repairs, not the routine upkeep.

Warranty vs AMC (the distinction): - Warranty / defects-liability: covers defects — failures due to faulty workmanship, materials or the product itself — remedied free by the contractor/manufacturer within the defined period. It does NOT do your routine servicing, and it usually excludes wear, misuse, consumables and neglect. - AMC (maintenance contract): covers planned preventive maintenance — scheduled servicing, cleaning, inspections, minor consumables — that keeps the kit healthy and prevents breakdowns. Different job entirely.

The catch that decides it: - Warranties almost always REQUIRE proper maintenance to remain valid — service records, correct servicing intervals, competent providers. Skip the servicing and you can VOID the warranty, so a later failure the warranty would have covered becomes your bill. Neglect isn't a saving; it's a risk.

So during warranty: - You still need the equipment maintained — either via an AMC or the developer's/handover maintenance arrangement — and you must keep the service records to protect the warranty. - What the warranty saves you is paying for genuine defect repairs in that window — not the routine upkeep. - Don't double-pay for the same thing: you shouldn't pay an AMC to fix defects the warranty covers — scope the AMC as maintenance, and claim defects under warranty. Make sure the AMC and warranty don't overlap on defect repairs.

Common mistake: treating "it's under warranty" as "no maintenance needed" — then voiding the warranty by neglect, or paying twice by not separating maintenance (AMC) from defect-repair (warranty). Keep both roles clear, maintain the kit (with records) to protect the warranty, and use a competent maintenance provider for the servicing side. Anyone had a warranty claim refused because servicing wasn't kept up?