When it comes to a new development, the alignment of brand and partners plays a defining role in the success of a project. Whether it’s the builder, developer, architect or financier, those relationships ultimately shape not just the delivery, but the long-term performance and perception of what’s built.

For family-run delivery partner Scion, one of the most influential partnerships in recent years has been with Resilience Insurance. It’s a relationship that has supported the company’s continued growth, while reinforcing its position in the market as it expands its development pipeline.

Founded more than three decades ago by Sam Jabbour, Sci0s steadily built a reputation for delivering high-quality residential projects across Greater Sydney, underpinned by an integrated model that brings development and construction under one roof.

That builder-first foundation remains central to how the business operates today, with a hands-on approach to delivery and a strong focus on long-term performance rather than short-term outcomes.

Several years ago, the group identified an opportunity to further strengthen its offering to purchasers through the adoption of Latent Defects Insurance (LDI). At the time, the policy was relatively new to the Australian market, having only recently been introduced by Resilience Insurance, despite being widely used internationally for more than six decades.

Rather than viewing Resilience LDI as a compliance measure, Scion saw it as an extension of its existing philosophy, one centred on quality, accountability and long-term performance.

A natural alignment

On first meeting Scion, Resilience Insurance CEO Corey Nugent says the alignment between the two businesses was immediate.

“They were across it from the start. The Scion team understood the value,” Nugent says.

“It fit their brand, their focus on quality and their customers. They saw it as something that could genuinely differentiate them as an early adopter.”

That alignment is rooted in Scion’s identity. As a family-run business, the company places a strong emphasis on long-term relationships, accountability and doing things properly the first time, values that closely mirror the intent behind Resilience LDI.

“They care about their customers and they care about quality,” Nugent adds. “That’s what stood out to us.”

Why Latent Defects Insurance

Rather than viewing the 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy purely as a risk mitigation tool, Scion’s approach has always been centred on the end purchaser.

“From the get-go, we made the decision to use it across all our projects,” says Sebastian Jabbour, Operations Director at Scion.

“It’s great insurance for the customer. One of our core values is longevity. We’re not here for a short time, we’re here for the long term. Resilience LDI aligns with that.”

Owning the outcome

Scion’s position is shaped by its origins as a builder before expanding into development. Operating across both disciplines brings a heightened level of accountability across the full lifecycle of a project.

Jabbour, the third generation of the family to work in development, says that foundation has informed how the business approaches quality and delivery.

“Being a builder first, we understand how to deliver a building,” he says.

For Scion, the adoption of Latent Defects Insurance was never about protecting the business, it was about reinforcing confidence for the end user.

“The outcome isn’t solely about the quality of the building,” Jabbour says. “It’s about making sure our residents feel safe and secure when purchasing.”

Embedding Resilience LDI across the pipeline

Scion’s adoption of Resilience LDI has been consistent across its portfolio, spanning both completed and in-progress developments.

The group is approaching completion of its first Resilience LDI-backed project in West Ryde, which will be among the first new developments in New South Wales to complete with the 10-year defect cover in place.

It has also delivered Sterling in Lane Cove with Resilience LDI and is progressing Chatham in West Ryde.

Beyond its own developments, Scion has extended its advocacy for Resilience LDI into projects where it acts purely as a delivery partner. It is currently delivering WINIM’s Hermitage senior living project in St Ives, as well as the same developer’s The Osborne apartment development in Lane Cove, both of which have adopted Resilience LDI.

During construction, Resilience Insurance engages independent third-party consultants, including SDSS, to undertake ongoing quality inspections throughout the build. Where issues are identified, rectification is mandatory, ensuring a higher level of confidence in the building’s structural integrity upon completion.

Strengthening the buyer proposition

While not implemented solely as a sales tool, the presence of Latent Defects Insurance has had a clear impact on buyer confidence.

The policy has been a key component of Scion’s project marketing, with dedicated space in display suites used to educate purchasers on what Resilience LDI is and why it matters.

“All consumers in the off-the-plan space are looking for is peace of mind,” Jabbour says.

“We can tell them who we are, our ethos, and why they should purchase from us and hope that’s enough. But with Resilience LDI, it shows we are backing our product to meet expectations, particularly when buyers are purchasing off the plan from a piece of paper.”

Scion has also found that the inclusion of Resilience LDI, alongside its broader quality-driven approach, supports stronger pricing outcomes.

“Customers see more value in our product and price point” Jabbour says.

“They’d rather pay a slight premium to have the policy once they’ve understood what it brings them.”

What is Resilience LDI

Resilience Latent Defects Insurance (LDI), is changing the game for off-the-plan apartment buyers in Australia.

This insurance product provides off-the-plan apartment buyers with a 10-year warranty on their new apartment and the building it's situated in. The cover is purchased by the property developer/builder (pre-construction) and is designed to protect owners against any immediate or future problems with the structural components of their new property, from leaks to cracks and everything in between.

Some of Sydney’s biggest and most respected developers have embraced the new insurance. The likes of Scion, Deicorp, Abadeen, Coronation Property and Urban Property Group have rolled out the insurance across some, if not all of the projects they’re currently undertaking.

Resilience Insurance, the first insurer to launch Latent Defects Insurance in Australia, is now taking the product national.