Consumer
Education and Information
Get it in Writing
If you’re planning on hiring a contractor to do
construction, renovation or repair work on your home, this website provides information
that will help you. For more information click
here.
Maintenance Matters
Bulletins
The
HPO’s Maintenance Matters publications are designed to provide practical
information on the maintenance of the building envelope of multi-unit residential
buildings, covering why maintenance needs to performed regularly, what needs to be
maintained and provides guidance in hiring the right people for the job.
Consumer Survey Results 2004/05
2004/05 Consumer Survey
Results Summary
The Consumer Survey is a province-wide survey of people who have recently bought a new or
nearly new home and people who are considering buying a home in the near future. The
survey covers such items as:
- Satisfaction with
the residential builder licensing system
- Satisfacation with
the home warranty insurance systems
- Consumer opinions
relating to the appropriate level of consumer protection for homebuyers in the province
One-on-One Sessions
The HPO also offers one-on-one sessions with strata councils to provide information about
the Homeowner's Reconstruction Loan and PST Relief Grant programs. Usually held in the evening
or on weekends to accommodate the schedules of strata council members, the HPO provides
personalized service to homeowners in need of assistance.
Buying a New Home Guide: A Consumer Protection Guide
The Buying a New Home Guide provides
information and guidance to prospective buyers. Topics include information on home
warranties, residential builder licensing, hiring inspectors and the role of lawyers and
lenders in transactions.
Managing Major Repairs: A Condominium Owner's Manual
The HPO, in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipal
Affairs and CMHC, produced Managing Major
Repairs , a 100-page guide which provides condominium owners with step-by-step
detailed information on the process to repair a leaking building. The first copy to
each strata corporation is free. Additional copies of Managing Major Repairs
are available at $10 each.
Options for Resolving Residential Construction Disputes
The HPO in conjunction with the Ministry of Attorney General's Dispute Resolution Office
developed the Options for Resolving
Residential Construction Disputes guide which provides homeowners and the residential
construction industry with information on negotiation, arbitration, and litigation.
Green Building and Energy Programs
Numerous energy saving and conservation programs are
available to homeowners and residential builders to reduce energy consumption, reduce the
impact on the environment, and to reduce the operating costs of buildings. The following
covers a wide range of energy programs, green building rating systems that are applicable
to both new and existing buildings, and links to more information on green building, green
products, and sustainability.
Strata Property Act
The Strata Property Act is administered by the Ministry of Finance and Corporate
Relations. A consolidated version of the Strata Property Act and the Strata
Property Amendment Act including cross reference to the regulations and the forms
follows:
HPO Information Line
The HPO operates a toll-free information line, Monday through Friday from 8:30 am - 4:30
pm. Callers can obtain applications for financial assistance and builder licenses,
order publications and get information about HPO programs. Call 604- 646-7055 or
1-800-407-7757.
Please check the Links page for additional consumer
information from other sources.
Last Updated: July 22, 2005 |
