Tarion’s COVID-19 Pandemic Response
Tarion is committed to keeping you informed as we continue to work through this evolving situation created by COVID-19. The information below is intended to help answer your questions. As more information becomes available, Tarion will continue to update their page: Tarion.com
If you have further questions about the information provided or your situation, please contact Tarion’s Customer Service team at 1-877-982-7466 or email [email protected].
FAQ for Homeowners regarding COVID-19
Is Tarion still open?
At this time, our corporate office is closed to visitors and staff are working remotely.
We have technology in place that enables us to do so in an efficient and effective manner, allowing us to provide uninterrupted service.
Until the public health directives regarding social distancing are lifted, homeowners will need to submit forms via the MyHome portal or scan and email documents to [email protected]. Alternatively, they can mail them in.
How will the Emergency Order affect my warranty periods?
The warranty coverage time periods (one year, two year, three to seven year, delayed closing, financial loss and deposit claims) remain in place but to ensure claim rights are not jeopardized the claim submission periods are effectively extended for the duration of the emergency period.
How will this affect warranty form submission deadlines?
Until the Emergency Order has been lifted, all warranty claim submission deadlines (30-day, Year-End, Second-Year, MSD, delayed closing, financial loss and deposit claims) are suspended. Homeowners should still submit forms to their builder and to Tarion but are not required to meet the regular statutory deadlines for submitting forms and will not have forms rejected for being late. Once the Emergency Order has been lifted, homeowners will receive a reasonable extension to submit their forms. Please note: this suspension also applies to Condo Corporations filing First-Year, Second-Year and MSD Common Elements Claims.
If you choose to submit your form now via Tarion’s homeowner portal, MyHome, it may be rejected automatically for being late due to the system’s programming. However, Tarion will amend this by accepting the form as on time and a new letter will be sent outlining the next steps in the process.
Do homeowners still need to request conciliations according to the current timelines?
The 30-day period in which homeowners must request a conciliation is suspended until the Emergency Order has been lifted. Once the emergency is over, homeowners will receive a reasonable extension to submit a request for conciliation. As a homeowner, you can still request a conciliation inspection right now if you wish, however, we want to advise you that we are not currently scheduling any inspections at this time. We will keep your request in our system and will contact you with a scheduled date once the emergency is over.
The 60-day period in which condo corporations must request a conciliation is suspended until the Emergency Order has been lifted. Once the emergency period is over, condo corporations will receive a reasonable extension to submit a request for conciliation.
How will this affect conciliation inspections, claim inspections and common elements meetings?
Conciliations, inspections and common element meetings are postponed and will be rescheduled at the earliest possible date after the Emergency Order has been lifted.
When will my builder be required to do repairs if conciliations and inspections are being postponed?
All repair timelines are suspended until after the emergency period is declared over. This does not apply to emergencies or health and safety issues.
If homeowners or builders have any questions about their specific circumstance, they should contact Tarion’s customer service team at 1-877-982-7466 or email [email protected].
What should I do if I have a health and safety issue or other emergency concerns?
Homeowners can still contact their builder and Tarion regarding any concerns with health and safety issues or other emergency concerns
For homeowners: Homeowners are advised to follow the emergency processes outlined on Tarion.com here.
For condominium corporations: Condominium corporations are advised to follow the emergency processes outlined in the Condominium Corporation Information Package and Builder Bulletin 49.
For vendors/builders: Builders are advised to follow the emergency processes outlined in Builder Bulletin 42 and Builder Bulletin 49.
If homeowners or builders have any questions about their specific circumstance, they should contact Tarion’s customer service team at 1-877-982-7466 or email [email protected].
Are homeowners required to allow builders access to their home to complete repairs?
Reluctance on the part of a homeowner to open their home for trades and builders will not be viewed by Tarion as denied access during the period of the time covered by the province’s Emergency Order. When it comes to after-sales service in a home, we do not expect any homeowner to open their homes to trades or suppliers if they do not wish to do so. Similarly, builders and their trades and suppliers who do not wish to enter a home are not expected to do so.
If homeowners or builders have any questions about their specific circumstance, they should contact Tarion’s customer service team at 1-877-982-7466 or email [email protected].
How will this affect scheduled repairs?
Whether currently scheduled repairs proceed will be a decision made between builders and homeowners. Reluctance on the part of a homeowner to open their home for trades and builders will not be viewed by Tarion as denied access during the period of the time covered by the province’s emergency orders. When it comes to after-sales service in a home, we do not expect any homeowner to open their homes to trades or suppliers if they do not wish to do so. Similarly, builders and their trades and suppliers who do not wish to enter a home are not expected to do so.
If homeowners or builders have any questions about their specific circumstance, they should contact Tarion’s customer service team at 1-877-982-7466 or email [email protected].
What if I have a Pre-Delivery Inspection coming up? Will a builder be allowed to postpone it?
Given the present circumstances, we do not consider it a requirement that the PDI must occur prior to a closing in the presence of both the builder and the homeowner.
If, due to the current environment, a homeowner and a builder cannot agree on a way to hold a PDI, we recommend that builders conduct the PDI on behalf of homeowners and document the condition of the home via the PDI form and photos. We also recommend that the homeowner conduct their own “delivery” inspection as soon as reasonably possible after taking possession.
The homeowner should document the state of the home as close to occupancy as possible and identify any items of damage with detail (taking pictures or video would be helpful). This will help serve as a record of the state of the home close to occupancy and will be helpful in the event a dispute arises later as to whether an item of damage was caused by the homeowner or builder.
Will my closing be delayed?
If a new home is in the midst of construction at this time, it is very possible that the pandemic will cause delays in the delivery of the home. Under the unavoidable delay provisions of the Addendum (which forms part of the purchase agreement), the builder will be entitled to unilaterally extend critical dates. However, the builder must follow the rules set out in the Addendum to do so.
Am I entitled to claim delayed closing or delayed occupancy compensation because of the pandemic?
No. The pandemic qualifies as an unavoidable delay under the provisions of the Addendum. If however, your builder does not follow the rules regarding providing appropriate notice, they may not be able to extend the critical dates and you may be eligible for compensation.
What if my home was already delayed prior to the pandemic being declared?
If your home was delayed prior to the pandemic, your builder should still have followed the provisions of the Addendum with regard to providing proper notice. For questions about your specific home, please contact Customer Service at [email protected].
If I’m a new builder, do I still have to register with Tarion?
New builders and vendors are still required to register with Tarion in order to be able to legally build and/or sell in Ontario.
Builders and vendors can submit applications via BuilderLink and have the ability to provide supporting documentation electronically.
My licence is due to expire, do I still need to renew it?
Until the Emergency Order has been lifted, builders are still encouraged to submit renewals on time through BuilderLink or mail, but if they miss their renewal deadline, their registration will not automatically expire. Renewal notices may still be auto-generated via BuilderLink.
This will not apply to builders whose renewals have been refused or whose licences have been previously revoked.
FAQ for Home Builders regarding COVID-19
How will this Emergency Order impact warranty time periods for homeowners?
The warranty time periods (one year, two year, three to seven year, delayed closing, financial loss and deposit claims) remain in place but to ensure claim rights are not jeopardized the claim submission periods are effectively extended for the duration of the emergency period.
Will homeowners still be required to submit warranty claim forms according to existing deadlines?
Until the Emergency Orders has been lifted, all warranty claim submission deadlines (30-day, Year-End, Second-Year, MSD, delayed closing, financial loss and deposit claims) are suspended. Homeowners should still submit forms to their builder and to Tarion but are not required to meet the regular statutory deadlines for submitting forms and will not have forms rejected for being late. Once the Emergency Order has been lifted, homeowners will receive a reasonable extension to submit their forms.
Will builders be expected to participate in conciliations?
Conciliations, inspections and common element meetings are postponed and will be rescheduled at the earliest possible date after the emergency order has been lifted. The 30-day period in which homeowners must request a conciliation is also suspended until the Emergency Order has been lifted. Once the emergency is over, homeowners will receive a reasonable extension to submit a request for conciliation.
How does the Emergency Order affect repair periods?
All repair timelines are suspended until after the emergency period is declared over. This does not apply to emergencies or health and safety issues.
How should I handle emergencies?
Builders are advised to follow the emergency processes outlined in Builder Bulletin 42 and Builder Bulletin 49. If homeowners or builders have any questions about their specific circumstance, they should contact Tarion’s customer service team at 1-877-982-7466 or email [email protected].
Are homeowners required to allow trades into their homes to complete repairs?
Reluctance on the part of a homeowner to open their home for trades and builders will not be viewed by Tarion as denied access during the period of the time covered by the province’s Emergency Order. When it comes to after-sales service in a home, we do not expect any homeowner to open their homes to trades or suppliers if they do not wish to do so.
Similarly, builders and their trades and suppliers who do not wish to enter a home are not expected to do so. If homeowners or builders have any questions about their specific circumstance, they should contact Tarion’s customer service team at 1-877-982-7466 or email [email protected].
What happens if I don’t want to do a Pre-Delivery Inspection due to health concerns?
Given the present circumstances, we do not consider it a requirement that the PDI must occur prior to a closing in the presence of both the builder and the homeowner.
If, due to the current environment, a homeowner and a builder cannot agree on a way to hold a PDI, we recommend that builders conduct the PDI on behalf of homeowners and document the condition of the home via the PDI form and photos. We also recommend that the homeowner conduct their own “delivery” inspection as soon as reasonably possible after taking possession.
The homeowner should document the state of the home as close to occupancy as possible and identify any items of damage with detail (taking pictures or video would be helpful). This will help serve as a record of the state of the home close to occupancy and will be helpful in the event a dispute arises later as to whether an item of damage was caused by the homeowner or builder.
My licence is due to expire, do I still need to renew it?
Until the Emergency Order has been lifted, builders are still encouraged to submit renewals on time through BuilderLink or mail, but if they miss their renewal deadline, their registration will not automatically expire. Renewal notices may still be auto-generated via BuilderLink.
This will not apply to builders whose renewals have been refused or whose licences have been previously revoked.