PST Relief Grant
Program
The PST Relief Grant Program provides grant assistance
to owners of leaky homes who have repaired damage caused by premature building envelope
failure. The Homeowner Protection Office (HPO) is responsible for the administration of
the program.
Eligible recipients include strata councils, housing
co-operative boards, single detached homes and duplexes in the coastal climatic zone.
Investor -owned properties are not eligible since repair costs can be deducted from rental
income. Builders and warranty companies are not eligible for the grant. Assistance is
available on repairs completed on or after July 28, 1998. This is retroactive to the date
the Homeowner Protection Act was passed.
The grant is based on a formula that equates to the cost
of PST paid on repairs. Generally, about 40 percent of a total repair bill consists of
materials costs which are subject to PST. The amount of the grant is based on the
following formula:
total cost of repairs X 40%
X the PST rate in effect when the repairs were paid for (which is 7% prior to February 20,
2002 and 7.5% thereafter)
The "total cost of repairs" in the formula is
the contract price of the completed repair..
The application
package is available through the HPO. In the case of strata titled buildings and
housing co-operatives, the strata council or housing co-operative board will apply on
behalf of the owners/members. For single family homes, all owners registered on title for
the property must sign the application.
Supporting documentation required for the application
includes:
- a completed application form;
- a certificate to verify that the repair was necessary due
to a premature building envelope failure and is not simply related to maintenance;
- a statutory declaration by the contractor confirming
repairs have been completed; and
- copies of contracts with change orders, invoices or
certificates of payment that support the cost of repairs being submitted on the
application.
Once the application is complete and approved, the PST
grant will be paid within 30 days. In the case of strata titled buildings or housing
co-operatives the grant is paid to the corporation. For individual homeowners the grant
will be paid to all owners registered on title.
Telephone inquiries should be directed to the PST
Relief Grant Administrator at 604-646-7086 or toll-free at 1-800-407-7757.
Additional Information
Last Updated: November 25, 2003 |
