BILD: Why oversight and regulation of renovators is critical

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Supporting licensing and industry accreditation programs for renovators is a key way to protect consumers and cut administrative costs in the City of Toronto

Often when homeowners decide to take on a renovation, it is a substantial investment in one of their largest assets: their home.

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One has only to read the news or chat with a friend to hear about a remodeling project gone wrong or a homeowner being taken advantage of by unscrupulous, fly-by-night operators masquerading as renovation professionals.

This underscores why accreditation, validation, and/or licensing of renovation professionals is crucial and something that BILD and Greater Toronto Area (GTA) RenoMark members support.

Earlier this year, the City of Toronto commenced a review of its rules for businesses and trades outlined in Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 545, Licensing (the licensing by-law).

Through this review, the city is considering deregulating certain business types and trades to modernize the licensing by-law to meet today’s business environment and reduce red tape, notably the building renovator license.

BILD, as an industry association representing not just builders and developers in the GTA, but also professional renovators, has provided its input into the review. First and foremost, our position remains that oversight and regulation are necessary in the renovation sector, particularly for consumer protection.

However, does the administration of this oversight need to be done by the city or can it be completed more effectively and efficiently by another body?

For example, under the RenoMark program, established in 2001 by BILD and now operated nationally by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association (CHBA), participating renovators must comply with a series of requirements well beyond the City of Toronto’s licensing requirements.

Under the RenoMark program in the GTA, participants are subject to a strict series of conditions to be part of the program. They must be verified annually to ensure they are WSIB enrolled, have valid insurance coverage for $2 million liability to protect the homeowner, provide a two-year warranty, use written contracts, and commit to high standards of customer service.

They must adhere to BILD’s code of ethics and companion document, and the RenoMark Code of Conduct while also committing to continued education and training and they must have all required licenses and registrations.

For GTA RenoMark renovators who also build entirely new custom homes, BILD verifies that they have a Home Construction Regulatory Authority license number

GTA RenoMark participants must be members in good standing of BILD, the Ontario Home Builders’ Association, and CHBA. All of these elements are currently administered under the RenoMark and offer an excellent opportunity to ensure renovators operating in the City of Toronto adhere to strict regulatory and customer service standards, and add no additional cost or administrative requirements to the city.

Renovating your home is an exciting opportunity and one that all homeowners should undertake with confidence in the renovator who they have chosen. The City of Toronto and other municipalities across the GTA have an opportunity to ensure that homeowners can renovate with confidence.

Licensing requirements are reviewed by partners; and programs such as Renomark should be considered the standard that all renovators must adhere to. This will assure higher levels of consumer protection and reduce administrative burden — a solution that benefits all.

Dave Wilkes is President and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD), the voice of the home building, land development and professional renovation industry in the GTA. For the latest industry news and new home data, visit www.bildgta.ca.