Since there was no remaining meaningful consumer protection activities or responsibilities being conducted at the Homeowner Protection Office (HPO), it is no surprise to learn that the HPO is quietly closing its doors.
HOMEOWNER PROTECTION ACT RESPONSIBILITIES TRANSFERRED
The announcement last summer that the HPO interest-free loan program (designed to keep Leaky Condo owners in their homes) was being discontinued has already started to take its toll.
I’ve received several phone calls from devastated owners in absolute despair. The best option for one woman, almost a neighbour of Minister responsible, Rich Coleman’s, is to quit her job and declare bankruptcy.
Following the loan program cancellation, it was predictable that the HPO itself would be on the chopping block because it was now doing nothing for consumers as required by the flawed Homeowner Protection Act.
This same type of failed (HPO) experiment was under scrutiny in Texas last year.
The misnamed Homeowner Protection Office had been a front for the building industry for more than ten years. Government appointees from the industry ran it, and there was no substantive measures brought in to bring about consumer protection. Instead it sponsored everything for developers.
The appalling track record of the industry has not improved since at least the 1970’s when BC home builders realized that they were faced with consumer issues on a scale that required the concentrated effort of a large number of dedicated merchant builders (industry types) to create a consumer protection plan, the New Home Warranty program (NHW).
Remember prior to the formation of the HPO, it was the same industry types that ran this New Home Warranty program into the ground.
This helps to answer the question as to why there are so many defects, delays, etc., on new homes; the industry leaders don’t know how to manage, and furthermore they are working with severely outdated business models.
Unfortunately too many of them continue to make good profits in a broken system at the expense of the consumer. They try to build their reputation on philanthropic good deeds from this profiteering, rather than world-class, top quality homes for Canadians. To hell, with those who purchased the defective new homes they built.
Given the continuing home building problems in BC (see 2008 HPO survey results) and the pathetic and continuing failure of government and the industry, is it now time to expand the role for the Ombudsman in BC?
It angers me that our elected Government has turned its back on these people in need. It is in my opinion that poor building codes (and neighbourhood bylaws) and a lack of builder overview by the municipalities has created this problem in the first place.
Developers and Contractors have gotten away with a pretty sweet racket by providing a product they know will leak and not having any long term responsibilities for the repair.
I agree that tax payers should not foot the bill for all of these costs. The original developers/contractors should be made responsible for the lion’s share of the repairs. They may then think: Maybe we should build these RIGHT in the first place regardless of the minimum codes!
“As part of government’s review of Crown corporations, the Province will transfer a number of the key responsibilities under the Homeowner Protection Act effective April 1, 2010.” This is conveniently timed to enable even more building industry sponsorship by the HPO: The Greater Vancouver Home Builders Association’s 16th annual seminar. BTW, this ‘disingenuous’ seminar misleads first time home buyers, giving the false impression that they will be protected from local builders and their notorious shoddy workmanship, poor quality, etc., by a useless warranty insurance program.
OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN
Susan Berry, RO
PO Box 9039, Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC
V8W 9A5
Phone: (250) 356-0568
Fax: (250) 387-0198
e-mail: sberry@ombudsman.bc.ca
Excerpt from: http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2009-2013/2010HSD0024-000212.htm
As of June 30, 2010 the PST Relief Grant for owners of homes with completed building envelope repairs will be terminated in conjunction with the introduction of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).
HPO stopped accepting new applications for the Reconstruction Program in July 2009 and transferred the administration to the Ministry of Finance.
604 646-7053
Programs previously administered by the now defunct HPO were transferred as follows:
BC Housing: residential builder licensing; home warranty; reconstruction levy collection; and, research and education.
Ministry of Finance: administration of the reconstruction loan and interest subsidy programs.
The HPO website will continue to provide information at: http://www.hpo.bc.ca