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What's New?
- Building Smart #4 Seminar
The HPO is delivering their Fall 2005 Building Smart #4 seminar entitled Attics, Roofs,
Balconies and Decks at 16 locations across B.C. This seminar provides practical
information on how to avoid problems in the performance of attics, roofs, balconies and
decks in single-detached houses and townhouses. Click
here for the on-line registration form. You can also register by fax or by
calling the HPO at 1-800-407-7757.
- Building Envelope Solutions: Theory and
Practice Course
BCIT and Camosun College will be offering the Building Envelope Solutions Course
starting in December. See the flyer
for details on the upcoming sessions.
- Discussion Paper Released:
The Homeowner Protection Office released a discussion paper entitled Raising the Bar -
Enhancing Professionalism in British Columbia’s Residential Construction Industry. It
responds to the direction provided by the Minister responsible for the Homeowner
Protection Act in February 2005 that the HPO prepare a discussion paper on the
implementation of the HPO Board’s Futures Report proposal "to bring about a
further increase in the professionalism of the residential construction sector". See
the discussion paper for
details on the options for "raising the bar". The consultation period ended
on October 31, 2005. View responses here.
- 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
- Satisfaction with the home warranty insurance systems
- Consumer opinions relating to the appropriate level
of consumer protection for homebuyers in the province
- Manager, Licensing and Deputy Registrar
Appointed
Wendy Grandan LL.B has been appointed Manager, Licensing and Deputy Registrar at the
Homeowner Protection Office on June 13, 2005.
Wendy
comes from the Architectural Institute of British Columbia (A.I.B.C.), where she has
served as Director of Registration and Licensing/Deputy Registrar with responsibility for
licensing of architects, compliance with the Architects Act and development of
legislative improvements.
A report entitled A Map of Residential Construction
Skills Development in B.C. is now available. This draft discussion report maps
out the landscape of skills development in British Columbia, covering such questions as
who is involved in skills development, and what activities are involved in supporting
skills development.
Lombard General Insurance Company of Canada opens
home warranty insurance office in Vancouver.
Lombard General Insurance Company of Canada
1140 West Pender, Suite 1220
Vancouver, BC V6E 4G1
Telephone: 604-622-4200
Toll-free: 1-877-487-4200
Fax: 604-622-4213
Website: www.lombard.ca/Product_Dev_Solutions.htm
The Minister of Community Aboriginal and Women's
Services, the Honourable Murray Coell, has approved the Futures Report which contains the
HPO Board of Directors' recent recommendations for the future of the Homeowner Protection
Office and the Homeowner Protection Act. The Futures Report package contains the
Minister's letter indicating the basis for his approval, the transmittal letter to the
Minister and the Board's Futures Report.
Amendments
to the Homeowner Protection Act regulations were passed on July 23, 2004. A summary sheet explaining
the amendments, the Consolidated
Homeowner Protection Act Regulation for new residential construction and the Consolidated
Homeowner Protection Act Building Envelope Renovation Regulation are now
available.
Homeowners with policies of home warranty
insurance issued by American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida who wish to communicate
a possible construction defect or to obtain warranty insurance policy information should
contact Progressive Warranty directly at:
Progressive Warranty
111, 745 - 132 Street
Surrey, B.C. V3W 1J8
Telephone: 604-599-4740
Toll-free: 1-800-238-3493
Contact:
Curtis Sadlemyer for Claims inquiries
Michelle Brown for Operations inquiries
- Homeowners with policies of home warranty insurance issued by
Kingsway General Insurance who wish to communicate a possible construction defect should
contact Kingsway directly at:
Kingsway General Insurance
Ph: 1-800-265-5458
Fax: 1-800-267-5569
e-mail: ClaimsReporting@kingsway-general.com
Last Updated: November 15, 2005 |
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