What is the Tarion warranty, and does it cover renovations?

Tarion warranty is Ontario's new home warranty program, but it does NOT cover renovations - only newly constructed homes and condos.

Tarion Warranty Corporation provides mandatory warranty protection for new home buyers in Ontario, but this protection specifically excludes renovation work on existing homes. If you're renovating your Ottawa home, you'll need to rely on other forms of protection.

What Tarion Actually Covers

Tarion provides warranty coverage for newly built homes, including:

• One-year warranty on materials and workmanship


• Two-year warranty on electrical, plumbing, and heating systems


• Seven-year warranty on major structural defects

However, this only applies when you purchase a newly constructed home from a Tarion-registered builder. Any work done to renovate, repair, or modify an existing home falls outside Tarion's mandate entirely.

Protection for Ottawa Renovations

Since Tarion doesn't cover renovation work, Ottawa homeowners need to protect themselves through other means:

Contractor Insurance and Bonding: Verify your contractor carries liability insurance and WSIB coverage. You can check WSIB clearance certificates at wsib.ca/clearances. This protects you if workers are injured or if there's property damage during the project.

Written Contracts and Warranties: Ensure your contractor provides written warranties on their work. Most reputable Ottawa contractors offer 1-2 year warranties on workmanship. Get all warranty terms in writing before work begins.

Proper Licensing Verification: For electrical work, verify your contractor's ESA license at esasafe.com/contractor-locator. For gas work, check TSSA certification at tssa.org. The City of Ottawa Building Code Services (613-580-2424) can verify if proper permits were pulled.

Holdback Protection: Under Ontario's Construction Act, you can hold back 10% of each payment for 60 days after substantial completion. This gives you leverage if defects appear after the work is done.

When Problems Arise

If issues develop with renovation work in Ottawa, your recourse options include:

• Contractor's written warranty (if provided)


• Small claims court for disputes under $35,000


• Ontario's Consumer Protection Act for certain contract violations


• Construction lien claims if payment disputes arise

For major renovations like additions or structural work, consider hiring an independent home inspector after completion to identify any issues before your holdback period expires.

The key is thorough vetting upfront - check licenses, insurance, references, and get detailed written contracts. Unlike new home purchases, renovation protection relies entirely on choosing the right contractor and structuring proper contracts.