General Meeting Minutes
October 17, 2007 12 noon
Parksville Community Centre
In Attendance: Michelle Jones, Chair Susanne Hale
Jeff Hale Manley LaFoy
Helen Sims Glenn McCurrie
Dan Jack Ainsley Foster
Claudette Campbell Bill Katerenchuk
John Moore Duane Round
Marilyn Hayden, Recording Secretary
Guests: Councillor Marc Lefebvre, City of Parksville
Guest Speaker: Wendy Acheson, HPO Manager Licensing & Deputy Registrar
Michelle Jones called the meeting to order at 12:05 pm. and introduced guest speaker Wendy Acheson
Guest Presentation
Wendy Acheson – Important changes to the Homeowner Protection Act
· The Homeowner Protection Act was passed in 1998.
· Changes to the Act are geared with owner builders in mind and does not regulate renovations.
· HPO’s responsibilities
· License residential builders and building envelope renovators
· Monitor the performance of home warranty insurance system
· Research and education – building science, best practices and consumer information
· Financial assistance to owners of leaky homes – interest free loans
· Exemptions: Owner-built homes
· Single detached
· Exempt from licensing and warranty insurance requirements
· Personal use only
· Must build or manage sub-trades
· 18-month restriction
· 18,000 + owner-built homes in B.C.
· Significant abuse of exemption
· Owner-builder survey
Owner builders
· 9% used an unlicensed general contractor
Subsequent purchasers
· 12% of owner-built homes occupied by subsequent purchasers
· About 25% report problems in workmanship
· 19% know that the home was built by an owner-builder without warranty
· Raising the Bar
· Minimum qualifications for licensees
· Legislative provision to enhance effectiveness
· Main Objectives
· Enhance professionalism
· Curtail owner builder abuse
· Provide more efficient tools to deal with non-compliance
· Main Task Group’s Report to HPO
· Direction provided on:
§ Licence categories
§ Core competencies
§ Educational requirements
§ Continuing professional development
§ Licence revocation and restriction procedures
· Enhanced Protection for Homeowners
· April 26, 2007, Minister introduced Bill 34, the Homeowner Protection Amendment Act
· Bill 34 granted Royal Assent on May 31, 2007
· Sets the stage for Regulation bringing the Act and related changes into effect later this year
· Amendments in Brief
· More stringent requirements for anyone wishing to build a home under the owner-builder exemption
· Authority for improved HPO enforcement through compliance orders and monetary penalties
· Authority for HPO to cancel, refuse, renew, restrict and place conditions on licences
· Internal review and independent appeal process for those affected by enforcement actions
· More information for consumers via expanded public registry/new homes registry
· Enable introduction of minimum qualifications for licensees
· Impact: Enhanced Consumer Protection
· Enhanced professionalism
· Improved quality of construction
· Decreased black-market activity
· Increased information and access to information for builders and consumers
· More resources for research and education “the HPO way”
· Next Steps
· Communications Plan
§ Phase 1: increase awareness and understanding of the new amendments
§ Phase 2: details of Regulation following approval
· Approval of Regulation bringing Act into force
· Minimum Qualifications
§ Minister’s review of Main Task Group Report
Questions from around the table:
· Who controls rain shield contactors?
· HPO will set standards that they have to meet. Consultant will ultimately be responsible through insurance coverage.
· How do you catch unlicensed owner builders when building in an area that does not require permits?
· Feel free to contact me at wacheson@hpo.bc.ca or tips can be emailed to Christy at cguimont@hpo.bc.ca. HPO will do a title search on owner built homes when sold. $25,000 penalty.
· Could ODCA be put on the contact list for new legislation?
· Yes
· Would builders have to be a member of CHBA? Could ODCA be included in the list of associations that builders have to belong to?
· That is up for discussion. The HPO have not got to that level at this point, but ODCA will be considered. Personally, I would like to see more choice. We want to make this Act as reasonable and flexible as possible.
· Could insurance protection be included in the disclosure statement when a house is sold?
· It is law at this time.
· Has any consideration been given to limiting licensed builders as they do in California?
· No. Last month there were 46,000 licensed builders.
· It is my understanding that licensed builders will be required to take courses every year under builder associations. Would like to see HPO present seminars?
· It will be left up to HPO.
· Has HPO considered getting involved in building inspections?
· No, it is not the mandate of the HPO.
Michelle Jones thanked Wendy for her most informative presentation and for coming from Vancouver to attend the meeting.