Home Repair Contractors: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:28, 6 March 2019

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If you own your home, you may want to do some repairs or renovations. Before you hire someone, understand your legal rights and steps you can take to prevent problems.

Understand your legal rights

You must hold back 10% of the contract price for a period of time

If you hire a contractor to do improvements on your home, under the Builders Lien Act, you must hold back 10% of each payment to the contractor for a period of time. This is your protection against claims by subcontractors or suppliers who may not have received their share of the payments you made to the contractor. If you hold back 10%, you won’t have to pay any more than that to subcontractors and suppliers.

The holdback can be paid out 55 days after the work has been substantially (or mostly) done. This is the time period during which someone can file a builders lien for money they are owed for work or materials supplied on the project.

For more on how this “builders lien holdback” works, see our information on builders liens (no. 268).

Tip Before you make the final payment to a contractor, do a title search of your property to make sure no builders liens have been filed against it by the contractor or any sub-trade or supplier.

If the contractor charges you more than you expected

If your contractor tries to charge much more than they estimated the work would cost, they may be guilty of a deceptive practice under the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act. It is deceptive for a business to provide an estimate that is materially less than the final price they charge — unless you agree to the higher price before the work is done. If this happens, see our information on dishonest business practices (no. 260). That said, if you keep changing your mind about what you want done or what materials you want, you should expect to pay more than the original estimate.

If you’re unhappy with the work

Once repair or renovation work has started, if you don’t like what’s being done, say so right away. The best way to solve a problem is to talk it over with the contractor first — it could be a simple misunderstanding.

The next step is to put your complaint in writing to the contractor. If the work still isn’t satisfactory, you may have to end the contract and order the contractor off the job. If you can’t solve the problem by negotiations, you might have to sue. For what’s involved in suing, see our information on starting a lawsuit (no. 165).

Tip For step-by-step guidance on what to do if you’re not happy with the work on a home repair or renovation, see People’s Law School’s information on if you’re not happy with a service.

Prevent problems

Check on whether you need a building permit

Before you start a home improvement project, check with your city or town hall to see if you need a building permit. If you plan to do major work, you may want to hire an architect to supervise the contractor’s work and materials. Any work requiring a permit must be inspected by the city when the project is finished, so be sure you understand what standards of construction and safety you must meet.

If you live in a condominium, also check the bylaws of the strata corporation to find out if your project is allowed, whether you need the strata corporation’s approval, and if there are any restrictions.

Get written estimates for the work

Get more than one estimate, and get them in writing. Most contractors will give a free estimate. You should ask for the estimate to set out clearly the work to be done and the cost of materials and labour, so you know what you’re getting for the money. Remember the 5% GST (goods and services tax) and 7% provincial sales tax. Make sure the contractor includes these taxes in the price.

Do research on any contractor you’re considering

Cost estimates from potential contractors are one factor in choosing a contractor. But that’s not all you should consider. Don’t automatically choose the lowest estimate — make sure you get the workmanship and quality of materials you want.

Ask friends if they can recommend a good contractor. Ask contractors for the names and phone numbers of people they’ve worked for — and check them out.

The Better Business Bureau can tell you if there have been any complaints about a contractor. Also, some trades must be licensed or certified by provincial or municipal authorities; others have voluntary organizations that set standards. Search online to find the appropriate authority or organization to verify the status of the contractor you’re considering. You should also ask the contractor to give you the names of any sub-trades they may use on your project — plumbers, electricians, and others — and check them out too. Online searches will often show user reviews of contractors, which may be helpful.

Tip Be careful of home repair contractors who go door-to-door or ask for a lot of money up front. If you think you’ve been unfairly pressured by a door-to-door salesperson or contractor, you may be able to get out of the contract if you act quickly. To learn more, see our information on door-to-door sales and other contracts you can cancel (no. 255).

Get a written contract

Once you choose a contractor, put your agreement in writing. Don’t rely only on a verbal agreement and a handshake. A verbal contract is legal, but it’s hard to prove exactly what you both agreed to. A written contract will help you sort out any misunderstandings.

If your contractor makes a promise or a guarantee, include it in your written contract. The law implies certain terms that aren’t written — for example, that the work will be done in a proper and workmanlike manner, and that the materials used will be of reasonable quality. But in every case, your best protection is a clear written contract.

Be clear on the contract price and payment terms

One of the terms in your contract will be the contract price and how you are going to pay it. Unless the job is small, you will likely want a definite price based on a written estimate, rather than an hourly rate that may add up to far more than you want to pay.

Also, don’t make a large deposit or pay a lot in advance. You don’t want to end up paying more than the value of the work and materials you receive. Instead, it’s a good idea to pay in installments, as the work progresses. The contract should say you will make installment payments, and when you will make them.

As for materials and supplies, remember to put in your contract that you’ll pay only for materials used, not for all materials bought — in case the contractor buys too much. The contractor should also agree to give you receipts for all materials bought. And you should verify them.

Be sure to clearly express any deadlines your contractor must meet and what happens if they’re not met.

Include terms to protect yourself in case someone gets injured

To protect yourself in case someone gets hurt while working on the project, the contract should say that the contractor:

is bonded and insured to indemnify (pay) you if you are liable for a worker getting hurt on your property
is registered with Work Safe BC for workers’ compensation
has all required permits and licences (for example, electricians must have a licence to work in BC)

You should also ensure your home insurance covers any damage claims by the contractor.

[updated January 2018]

The above was last reviewed for legal accuracy by Anna Kurt, Ganapathi Law Group.

Dial-A-Law © People's Law School is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial - ShareAlike 4.0 International Licence.

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 {{Dial-A-Law TOC|expanded = housing}}
-If you own your own home, you may want to do some repairs or renovations. Unless you have the time and skill to do the job yourself, you’ll hire someone to do it.
+If you own your home, you may want to do some repairs or renovations. Before you hire someone, understand your legal rights and steps you can take to prevent problems.
-==Do you need a building permit?==
+==Understand your legal rights==
-Before you start any home repair project, check with your city or town hall to see if you need a building permit. If you plan to do major work, you may want to hire an architect to supervise the contractor’s work and materials. Any work requiring a permit must be inspected by the city when the project is finished, so be sure you understand what standards of construction and safety you must meet. If you live in a condominium, also check the bylaws of the strata corporation to find out if your project is allowed, whether you need the strata corporation’s approval, and if there are any restrictions.
-==Get cost estimates==
+===You must hold back 10% of the contract price for a period of time===
-Get more than one estimate, and get them in writing. Most contractors will give a free estimate. You should also ask for each estimate to set out clearly the work to be done and the cost of materials and labour, so you know what you’re getting for the money. Remember the 7% GST and 5% PST. Make sure the contractor includes these taxes in the price.
+If you hire a contractor to do improvements on your home, under the ''[https://www.canlii.org/en/bc/laws/stat/sbc-1997-c-45/latest/sbc-1997-c-45.html#sec4_smooth Builders Lien Act]'', you must hold back 10% of each payment to the contractor for a period of time. This is your protection against claims by subcontractors or suppliers who may not have received their share of the payments you made to the contractor. If you hold back 10%, you won’t have to pay any more than that to subcontractors and suppliers.
-==How do you choose a contractor?==
+The holdback can be paid out 55 days after the work has been substantially (or mostly) done. This is the time period during which someone can file a '''builders lien''' for money they are owed for work or materials supplied on the project.
-Cost estimates from potential contractors are one factor. But that’s not all you should consider. Don’t automatically choose the lowest estimate—make sure you get the workmanship and quality of materials you want.
-Ask friends if they can recommend a good contractor. Ask contractors for the names and phone numbers of people they’ve worked for—and check them out. The [http://www.bbb.org/ Better Business Bureau] can tell you if there have been any complaints about a contractor. Also, some trades must be licensed or certified by provincial or municipal authorities; others have voluntary organizations that set standards. So search online to find the appropriate authority or organization to verify the status of the contractor you’re considering. You should also ask the contractor to give you the names of any sub-trades that they may use on your project—plumbers, electricians, and others—and check them out too. Online searches will often show user reviews of contractors, which may be helpful.
+For more on how this “builders lien holdback” works, see our information on [[Builders Liens (Script 268)|builders liens (no. 268)]].
-==Get a written contract==
+{| class="wikitable"
-Once you choose a contractor, put your agreement in writing. Don’t use only an oral agreement and a handshake. An oral contract is legal, but it’s hard to prove exactly what you both agreed to. A written contract will help you sort out any misunderstandings.
+|align="left"|'''Tip'''
+Before you make the final payment to a contractor, do a title search of your property to make sure no '''builders liens''' have been filed against it by the contractor or any sub-trade or supplier.
+|}
+===If the contractor charges you more than you expected===
+If your contractor tries to charge much more than they estimated the work would cost, they may be guilty of a '''deceptive practice''' under the ''[https://www.canlii.org/en/bc/laws/stat/sbc-2004-c-2/latest/sbc-2004-c-2.html#sec4_smooth Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act]''. It is deceptive for a business to provide an estimate that is '''materially less''' than the final price they charge — unless you agree to the higher price before the work is done. If this happens, see our information on [[Dishonest Business Practices and Schemes (Script 260)|dishonest business practices (no. 260)]]. That said, if you keep changing your mind about what you want done or what materials you want, you should expect to pay more than the original estimate.
-==Make sure any promises or guarantees are in the written contract==
+===If you’re unhappy with the work===
-If your contractor makes a promise or a guarantee, include it in your written contract. In some cases, the law will imply certain terms that aren’t written, for example, that the work will be done properly and that the materials used are the proper ones. But in every case, your best protection is a clear written contract.
+Once repair or renovation work has started, if you don’t like what’s being done, say so right away. The best way to solve a problem is to talk it over with the contractor first — it could be a simple misunderstanding.
-==What about the contract price and payment?==
+The next step is to put your complaint in writing to the contractor. If the work still isn’t satisfactory, you may have to end the contract and order the contractor off the job. If you can’t solve the problem by negotiations, you might have to sue. For what’s involved in suing, see our information on [[What is Small Claims Court? (Script 165)|starting a lawsuit (no. 165)]].
-One of the terms in your contract will be the contract price and how you are going to pay it. Unless the job is small, you will likely want a definite price based on a written estimate, rather than an hourly rate that may add up to far more than you want to pay. Also, don’t make a large deposit or pay a lot in advance. You don’t want to end up paying more than the value of the work and materials you receive. Instead, it’s a good idea to pay in installments, as the work progresses. The contract should say that you will make installment payments, and when you will make them. Do a title search of your property to make sure no builders liens have been filed against it by the contractor or any sub-trade or supplier—before you make the final payment.
-==What other things should be in the contract?==
+{| class="wikitable"
-Be sure to clearly express any deadlines your contractor must meet and what happens if they’re not met. As for materials and supplies, remember to put in your contract that you’ll pay only for materials used, not for all materials bought—in case the contractor buys too much. The contractor should also agree to give you receipts for all materials bought. And you should verify them.
+|align="left"|'''Tip'''
+For step-by-step guidance on what to do if you’re not happy with the work on a home repair or renovation, see People’s Law School’s information on [https://www.peopleslawschool.ca/everyday-legal-problems/consumer/hiring-someone/if-youre-not-happy-service if you’re not happy with a service].
+|}
+==Prevent problems==
-==Are you liable if a contractor gets hurt on your property?==
+===Check on whether you need a building permit===
-You may be liable in this case. So the contract should say that the contractor:
+Before you start a home improvement project, check with your city or town hall to see if you need a '''building permit'''. If you plan to do major work, you may want to hire an architect to supervise the contractor’s work and materials. Any work requiring a permit must be inspected by the city when the project is finished, so be sure you understand what standards of construction and safety you must meet.
-*is bonded and insured to indemnify (pay) you if you are liable for a worker getting hurt on your property
-*is registered with WorkSafeBC for workers compensation
+If you live in a condominium, also check the '''bylaws''' of the strata corporation to find out if your project is allowed, whether you need the strata corporation’s approval, and if there are any restrictions.
-*has all required permits and licenses (for example, electricians must have a license to work in BC)
+===Get written estimates for the work===
+Get more than one estimate, and get them in writing. Most contractors will give a free estimate. You should ask for the estimate to set out clearly the work to be done and the cost of materials and labour, so you know what you’re getting for the money. Remember the 5% GST (goods and services tax) and 7% provincial sales tax. Make sure the contractor includes these taxes in the price.
+===Do research on any contractor you’re considering===
+Cost estimates from potential contractors are one factor in choosing a contractor. But that’s not all you should consider. Don’t automatically choose the lowest estimate — make sure you get the workmanship and quality of materials you want.
+Ask friends if they can recommend a good contractor. Ask contractors for the names and phone numbers of people they’ve worked for — and check them out.
+The [http://www.bbb.org/ Better Business Bureau] can tell you if there have been any complaints about a contractor. Also, some trades must be licensed or certified by provincial or municipal authorities; others have voluntary organizations that set standards. Search online to find the appropriate authority or organization to verify the status of the contractor you’re considering. You should also ask the contractor to give you the names of any sub-trades they may use on your project — plumbers, electricians, and others — and check them out too. Online searches will often show user reviews of contractors, which may be helpful.
+{| class="wikitable"
+|align="left"|'''Tip'''
+Be careful of home repair contractors who go door-to-door or ask for a lot of money up front. If you think you’ve been unfairly pressured by a door-to-door salesperson or contractor, you may be able to get out of the contract if you act quickly. To learn more, see our information on [[Door-to-Door Sales, Time-Shares and Contracts You Can Cancel (Script 255)|door-to-door sales and other contracts you can cancel (no. 255)]].
+|}
+===Get a written contract===
+Once you choose a contractor, put your agreement in writing. Don’t rely only on a verbal agreement and a handshake. A verbal contract is legal, but it’s hard to prove exactly what you both agreed to. A written contract will help you sort out any misunderstandings.
-You should also ensure that your home insurance covers any damage claims by the contractor.
+If your contractor makes a promise or a guarantee, include it in your written contract. The law implies certain terms that aren’t written — for example, that the work will be done in a proper and workmanlike manner, and that the materials used will be of reasonable quality. But in every case, your best protection is a clear written contract.
-==What should you watch out for?==
+===Be clear on the contract price and payment terms===
-Be careful of home repair contractors who go door-to-door or ask for a lot of money up front. If you think you’ve been unfairly pressured by a door-to-door salesperson or contractor, you may be able to get out of the contract if you act quickly. To learn more about this, check script [[Door-to-Door Sales, Time-Shares and Contracts You Can Cancel (Script 255)|255]], called “Door-to-Door Sales, Time-Shares and Contracts You Can Cancel”.
+One of the terms in your contract will be the contract price and how you are going to pay it. Unless the job is small, you will likely want a definite price based on a written estimate, rather than an hourly rate that may add up to far more than you want to pay.
-Also, if your contractor tries to charge much more than the estimate, they may be guilty of a deceptive practice under the ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/04002_00 Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act]''. If this happens, check script [[Dishonest Business Practices and Schemes (Script 260)|260]], called “Dishonest Business Practices and Schemes”. But if you keep changing your mind about what you want done or what materials you want, you should expect to pay more than the original estimate.
+Also, don’t make a large deposit or pay a lot in advance. You don’t want to end up paying more than the value of the work and materials you receive. Instead, it’s a good idea to pay in '''installments''', as the work progresses. The contract should say you will make installment payments, and when you will make them.
-==What about builders lien holdbacks?==
+As for materials and supplies, remember to put in your contract that you’ll pay only for materials used, not for all materials bought — in case the contractor buys too much. The contractor should also agree to give you receipts for all materials bought. And you should verify them.
-The BC ''[http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/97045_01 Builders Lien Act]'' requires you to hold back 10% of the contract price, or 10% of each installment payment, for 55 days after the work has been substantially (or mostly) done. This is your protection against claims by subcontractors or suppliers who may not have received their share of the payments you made to the contractor. If you hold back 10%, you won’t have to pay any more than that to subcontractors and suppliers. For more on builders liens, check script [[Builders Liens (Script 268)|268]], called “Builders Liens”.
-==What if you’re unhappy with the work?==
+Be sure to clearly express any '''deadlines''' your contractor must meet and what happens if they’re not met.
-Once the work has started, if you don’t like what’s being done, say so right away. The best way to solve a problem is to talk it over with the contractor first—it could be a simple misunderstanding. Also, put your complaint in writing to the contractor. If the work still isn’t satisfactory, you may have to end the contract and order the contractor off the job. If you can’t solve the problem by negotiations, you might have to sue.
-==What if you must sue?==
+===Include terms to protect yourself in case someone gets injured===
-The [https://civilresolutionbc.ca/ Civil Resolution Tribunal] handles claims up to $5,000.
+To protect yourself in case someone gets hurt while working on the project, the contract should say that the contractor:
+*is bonded and insured to indemnify (pay) you if you are liable for a worker getting hurt on your property
+*is registered with Work Safe BC for workers’ compensation
+*has all required permits and licences (for example, electricians must have a licence to work in BC)
-[http://www.smallclaimsbc.ca/ Small claims court] is for claims between $5,000 and $35,000. You can also sue here if you reduce your claim to $35,000. For more about this, check scripts [[What is Small Claims Court? (Script 165)|165]] to [[Getting Your Judgment Paid (Script 169)|169]] on Small Claims Court. Also check the [http://www.provincialcourt.bc.ca/types-of-cases/small-claims-matters small claims section] of the provincial court website.
+You should also ensure your home insurance covers any damage claims by the contractor.
-BC Supreme Court is for claims over $35,000. You should see a lawyer in this case.
 [updated January 2018]
-'''The above was last reviewed for accuracy by Anna Kurt and edited by John Blois.'''
+'''The above was last reviewed for legal accuracy by [https://www.ganapathico.com/our-team/anna-kurt/ Anna Kurt], Ganapathi Law Group.'''
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