For those of you who have missed my previous two, here’s another good one.

This has to do with all you DIYers. One thing many forgot or ignore is getting a permit

for your construction, even in condominiums. The Board must approve any major renovations to

your space.

Within the last year, there have been at least two major catastrophes in the Toronto area. There

are probably more minor ones that aren’t as noteworthy.

The first involved a contractor who was asked to dig out and shore up a basement. The

homeowner hired this licensed contractor. Turns out they did not have the training, nor the expertise

to undertake this job. Tragic results incurred with the death of a young worker when the

foundation (and the house) collapsed.

The other more recent newsworthy event happened without death but with a major loss to the

homeowner. These homeowners bought a semi-detached - two homes under one roof, usually

side-by-side. The new homeowner undertook a complete renovation with contractors. While

they completed their job, their attached neighbor attempted the same. The problem came

when the neighbor did not take all the precautions necessary in their complete redo. They did

not have permits and were shut down numerous times by the city. In this process, the first

homeowners discovered shifting stairways, ceiling, and wall cracks and were told their home

would likely collapse. They moved out fearing their lives. The case has been tied up in the

courts for over two years.

I have seen many contractors, renovators working in Toronto. Very often you see a worker with

unmarked trucks (no name, license numbers, contractor numbers, etc). I have even seen major

projects with no visible permits on-site.

If you suspect an illegal, non-permuted project in your neighborhood, call your city councilor

and check. They are more than happy to pass along the address to the permits office, send out

inspectors and get back to you about the status of the project.

Don’t hire unlicensed, uninsured individuals. You may think you are saving money by paying

cash, but you are cheating the government and putting all of us at risk.

When you are buying a new home, work with a professional realtor to help prevent any of these

surprises from catching you. Selling or buying a home on your own has many risks. Undisclosed

problems or illegal renovations can be costly mistakes. It’s your investment, protect it any way

you can.

Always feel free to reach out with your questions about buying, selling, or leasing real estate.  Always here to help.