It’s taking longer than ever to build new homes in Calgary so it’s no wonder there’s a lot of pressure to move in as soon as possible.
In some cases people have taken possession before the home is completed.
The City of Calgary is now taking steps to stop potential safety problems before they occur.
“I think over the past couple of years there’s been more incidents of people who have been moved into houses or want to move into a house and we haven’t fully inspected it and in our opinion it’s not ready for occupancy”, says the Manager of Building Regulations, David Price.
He says he’s become aware of two or three a month and says some of the building inspectors have told him about more cases, so he says it’s been happening for a while.
It happened to Manning Fung in 2006.
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As Global News first reported, he says had to take possession of his house before it was completed.
The deck railing was finished, plumbing fixtures were left unattached and the exterior still needed stucco and fascia.
It took the city to step in and order the builder to do something.
Now the city is moving to stop this type of problem from happening again.
Beginning June first, you can’t move into a new home in Calgary until a “permission to occupy permit“ is issued.
After final inspection, the permit will be signed and faxed to the builder and must be posted within 24 hours.
“If it’s not there, the buyer really shouldn’t take possession and really shouldn’t move in to occupy. So that’s a single way of sayin, look for it, it should be there, if it’s not there you may have a problem”, says David Price.
Look for it, it should be there, if it’s not there you may have a problem.
Manning Fung says it’s a positive step and wishes it was around when he was building his home.
“I honestly think this is going to give home buyers a little bit more confidence when it comes to buying a home.“
Calgary’s Home Building Association supports the new step.
President, Don Davies says it will protect them when home buyers are pressuring to move in early.
“It can happen where the homeowner wants to move in and the homes not quite ready and it will give some evidence that until these things are taken care off we can’t allow you to move into the home.“
To further protect homebuyers, builders must also provide a list of any building code deficiencies within 30 days of the pre-possession inspection.
You can get more information on the program through the City’s 3-1-1 information line.
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