2010 BCBEC Conference & AGM
Innovative Solutions - Building Tomorrow is the theme of the 2010 BCBEC Conference & AGM which will be held at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in Vancouver on Wednesday, September 22.
Join us at this one-day conference organized by the BC Building Envelope Council and be part of the discussion of technical challenges, advances and opportunities posed by building enclosure systems as the industry moves towards increased demands in sustainable buildings. Participants will share their experiences on a range of building enclosure issues including the investigation, repair, design, construction of projects, energy efficiency and retrofit strategies from net zero houses to more energy efficient highrises.
Register online at www.bcbec.com
Download the 2010 BCBEC Conference & AGM flyer.
Clarification of PST Relief Grant Program
The Ministry of Housing and Social Development released an information bulletin providing clarification on eligibility for the PST Relief Grant program which was terminated on June 30, 2010.
Substantial Reconstruction - What Builders Need to Know
A new information bulletin that explains what Licensed Residential Builders and others need to know about substantial reconstruction is now available on the HPO website. The bulletin describes the conditions under which an existing building under renovation or reconstruction becomes a “new home.” It also provides helpful scenarios and options for complying with the Homeowner Protection Act and regulations. Read more here.
New Plumbing Fixture Requirements in the BC Building Code
New standards for high-efficiency plumbing fixtures have been added to the BC Building Code, effective October 4, 2010.
Information on the new standards can be found at http://www.housing.gov.bc.ca/building/consultation/het.
Homeowner Protection Act Responsibilities Transferred
As part of government’s review of Crown corporations, the Province transferred a number of the key responsibilities under the Homeowner Protection Act effective April 1, 2010.
The transfer of the licensing, research and education responsibilities of the Homeowner Protection Act to BC Housing provides the HPO with a more comprehensive infrastructure, an improved regional presence, and the creation of additional synergies and efficiencies that will benefit both organizations.
Read more about the changes in this Information Bulletin.
Visit the “Contact Us” Page for Up-to-Date Info
There are many ways to contact the Homeowner Protection Office. As of April 1, 2010 the HPO will continue to exist as a branch of BC Housing. Some of our contact information has changed as a result. Visit our Contact Us page to find the latest contact points.
Remember, the HPO operates a toll-free information line, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., if you have any questions. You will also find the contact information for the Reconstruction Program portfolio which was transferred to the Ministry of Finance on April 1, 2010.
Spring 2010 - Building BC Newsletter is Now Available
You can now view Building BC as an e-newsletter or as a printable PDF.
Greening the BC Building Code: Next Steps
The BC Building and Safety Standards Branch is developing proposals for energy performance for new Part 9 housing that, combined with provisions under the BC Energy Efficiency Act, will be equivalent to EnerGuide 80. View details on the proposed approach.
Launch of Online Licence and Renewal Applications
Effective immediately, Licensed Residential Builders and applicants will be able to access the following services through the- application for a new residential builder licence or licence renewal
- licence amendment application, such as name or company structure change
- update public registry information, such as contact information
2009 Licensed Residential Survey Highlights
Results are in for the 2009 Licensed Residential Builder Survey. How satisfied are LRBs with the residential builder licensing system and the home warranty insurance system? What research and education priorities have been identified for the future?
View the summary of key findings and highlights to learn more. The HPO thanks all those Licensed Residential Builders across the province who took the time to participate.
Building Smart Online #1 - Coming Soon
The HPO will launch a webinar based on previous Building Smart live presentation seminars. This online seminar will be accessible province-wide from your computer. Entitled Avoiding Moisture Problems in Houses, the first webinar will provide practical information to help you avoid moisture problems in the construction of single detached houses and townhouses. More information on the webinar will be available soon.
Buying a Home in British Columbia: A Consumer Protection Guide
The HPO has published a new consumer protection guide for homebuyers. This guide is designed to provide practical information to help consumers in B.C. make informed decisions about their home purchases.
See guide.
Guide to Home Warranty Insurance in British Columbia
The HPO has published a new guide entitled Guide to Home Warranty Insurance in British Columbia. This guide provides prospective new home buyers and owners of new homes with information on home warranty insurance in B.C.
See guide.
New Homes Registry
This NEW registry is a useful resource for homebuyers, realtors, lawyers, local governments, and others who are interested in quickly checking whether a new home or new home under construction has a home warranty insurance policy and is built by a Licensed Residential Builder or whether it is built without home warranty insurance under an exemption, such as an Owner Builder Authorization. Search the New Homes Registry by civic address or legal description.
See animated New Homes Registry demonstration - English, Punjabi or Cantonese version
HPO Email Subscription to Online Publications - Now Available
Residential builders as well as other interested parties can now subscribe to the HPO’s Building BC newsletter and other online publications such as Builder Insight (technical bulletins for the residential construction industry) and Maintenance Matters (consumer bulletins on the maintenance of multi-unit residences). In an effort to be kinder to the environment, the HPO will only be producing electronic versions of these publications in the future. The Spring 2009 edition of Building BC will be available in late March, look for it in your email inbox. Subscribe to HPO online publications.
