What should I do if my contractor won't finish the job?

If your contractor won't finish the job in Ottawa, you have several legal protections and steps to take immediately to protect yourself and get the work completed.

First, document everything - take photos of the unfinished work, gather all contracts, emails, and payment records. Under Ontario's Construction Act, you have specific rights as a property owner, and the City of Ottawa Building Code Services (613-580-2424) can help verify if permits are still valid and what work remains to meet code.

Immediate Steps to Take

Start by sending written notice to your contractor (email and registered mail) stating exactly what work remains incomplete and setting a reasonable deadline for completion - typically 10-15 business days. Reference your original contract terms and any agreed-upon completion dates. Keep copies of all correspondence as this creates a paper trail you'll need for any legal action.

Contact the City of Ottawa at 613-580-2424 if permits are involved. They can tell you what inspections are outstanding and whether the work completed so far meets Ontario Building Code requirements. If electrical work is involved, check with ESA (Electrical Safety Authority) at esasafe.com to verify if required inspections have been completed. For gas or HVAC work, contact TSSA at tssa.org.

Check Your Financial Protections

If you've been following proper payment practices (never paying more than 10% upfront, holding back final payment until completion), you have leverage. Under Ontario's Construction Lien Act, you should have held back 10% of the total contract value until 60 days after substantial completion - this money is your protection for exactly this situation.

Verify if your contractor has valid WSIB coverage at wsib.ca/clearances and proper insurance. If they don't, they may be operating illegally, which strengthens your position in any dispute.

Escalation Options in Ottawa

Contact the Ontario Consumer Protection office at ontario.ca/consumer to file a complaint. They can investigate if the contractor has violated consumer protection laws. If your contractor is licensed with a trade association, file complaints there as well.

For electrical contractors, verify their ESA license at licensing.esasafe.com and report issues to ESA if they're not completing work properly. For gas technicians, check TSSA certification and report violations.

Legal and Financial Recovery

Consider hiring a completion contractor to finish the work, but get everything in writing first. Document the additional costs - you can pursue the original contractor for these expenses. Small Claims Court in Ontario handles disputes up to $35,000, which covers most residential projects.

If the unfinished work affects your home's safety or habitability, contact Ottawa Public Health (613-580-6744) or Ottawa Fire Services if there are immediate safety concerns.

What to Watch For

Be wary if your contractor suddenly claims additional costs are needed to complete the original scope, demands more money upfront, or stops communicating entirely. These are red flags that the situation may worsen.

Never pay in full until the job is completely finished, all permits are closed, and you've had time to identify any deficiencies. The 10% holdback under Ontario law exists specifically to protect you in these situations.

For future projects, always verify contractors through ESA, TSSA, and WSIB before hiring, and never deviate from proper payment schedules regardless of contractor pressure.