1995: |
The Building Envelope Research
Consortium is established through
an initiative of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to act as a
co-ordinating agency for the research of building envelope problems in
B.C. |
1996: |
CMHC releases its Survey of
Building Envelope Failures in the
Coastal Climate of British Columbia. |
1998: |
Former B.C. Premier Dave Barrett
establishes a commission of
inquiry into the quality of condominium construction in B.C. Its 82
recommendations include changes to zoning regulations, building codes,
provincial and federal law, financing, contractor licensing, and
requirements of design professionals; and establishment of a
compensation fund for reconstruction and a provincial Homeowner
Protection Office. |
1999: |
A second Barrett Commission is
established following the collapse
of the New Home Warranty of British Columbia Inc. Findings recommend
100-per-cent compensation up to $25,000 per unit for repairs, with
costs shared equally between the provincial and federal governments and
the B.C. condominium construction industry. |
2000: |
The B.C. Assessment Authority
announces it will cost $220 million
to repair the 14,521 leaky condo units identified in that year’s
property assessments. |
2000: |
Housing Minister Jan Pullinger
announces new regulations will
require contractors to be licensed by the Homeowner Protection Office
and to provide third-party warranty insurance to obtain permits for
building-envelope repairs. |
2001: |
The B.C. government estimates
65,000 condominium units have
suffered water damage that will cost $1.5 billion to repair. Some
advocacy groups predict the damage estimates will grow to 90,000 units
and $2 billion. |
2001: |
The board of the Greater
Vancouver Regional District calls on the
two senior levels of government to activate disaster-relief legislation
and provide financial assistance to leaky condo owners. |
2003: |
A judge rules that condo owners
must hold a meeting and pass a
special resolution with three-quarters approval of condo owners before
a class-action lawsuit can be started. |
2005: |
Six years after the New Home
Warranty came into effect, 100,000
new residences have been brought to market with the warranty insurance
attached. |
2008: |
A report by the Homeowner
Protection Office states at least
72,000 strata units leaked and suffered water damage, and possibly as
many as 87,500 units. |
2009: |
B.C. government scraps the
10-year-old program, which provided
interest-free loans of almost $670 million to the owners of 16,000
condos, primarily on the South Coast. |
2010: |
A precedent-setting decision by
the Supreme Court of Canada means
owners of leaky condos can pursue the general contractor’s insurance
policy to try to recoup some of the cost of damages caused by defective
construction by subcontractors. |