The home is now yours, but don’t worry, you’re not in this alone! Your home is not just a financial investment – it is a personal and emotional one as well. This is why we believe the relationship we have built with you should last long after you move in.

What is Tarion?

The Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA) is the regulator of new home builders, but Tarion administers warranties and protections for purchasers of new homes! After you move in, there are specific statutory warranties: the 30-day, 1-year, 2-year and 7-year warranty, covering major defects. These warranties begin the day you take occupancy.

Register for “my home” with tarion

Visit Tarion’s website and click on the “My Home” link in the top banner, then click “Register For My Home” and follow the prompts. Once registered, this will allow you to manage, organize and submit your requests and claims. Each warranty period always reverts to the date of possession.

Note: If for any reason you elect to sell your home during the warranty period, the coverage will transfer to the new owner. However, the start date will remain as the original possession date.

Within 30-days of closing, you have the opportunity to complete an inspection of your home and submit the complete warranty form through Tarion. Only one 30-day form can be submitted. If you do not submit this form within the 30-days, your requests will be deferred by Tarion until your 1-year warranty. However, Activa as your builder will still address your concerns once submitted. Typically, only emergency issues are considered between your 30-day and 1-year period.

Within 1 year of closing, you will have the opportunity to complete an inspection of your home and submit a completed warranty form through Tarion. Your 1-year warranty requires the home to be constructed in a workmanlike manner and free from defects in materials. This warranty protects against unauthorized substitutions and Ontario Building Code violations, and requires the home to be fit for habitation. This applies for one year, beginning on the home’s date of possession.

NOTE: Brand new homes need time to settle. To allow for settlement, nail pops and cracked corners will be repaired at the 1-year inspection.

Your 2-year warranty protects against water penetration through the basement or foundation walls and defects in materials that affect windows, doors and caulking. This mechanical warranty will cover defects in work or materials in the electrical, plumbing and heating delivery and distribution systems. Additionally, this will cover defects in work or materials that result in the detachment, displacement or deterioration of exterior cladding such as brickwork, aluminum or vinyl siding. This applies for two years beginning on the home’s date of possession.

Your 7-year warranty covers major structural defects as defined in The Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act. It covers any significant damage due to soil movement as well as major cracks, distortion or displacement of a structural load-bearing element of the building if it results in failure or majorly affects the ability of a structural load-bearing element. This applies for seven years beginning on the home’s date of possession.

Seasonal Items

Items such as exterior painting, siding, brick/mortar work, caulking, cement/concrete, stucco, landscaping, sod, walkways, driveways, and decks will be under the Tarion Seasonal and Special Seasonal timeframes between May 1st and November 15th.  Please keep in mind that homeowner maintenance and normal wear and tear are factored into warranty submissions.

To learn more about your Tarion Warranty, visit their website.

Humidity and your home

Managing humidity is more important than many people realize, as damage or conditions caused by too much humidity are not covered under Tarion Warranty. These can include:

  • Condensation buildup on the interior of windows and sills, patio doors and floor tracks. Any moisture or water buildup should be cleaned up right away. Additionally, removing window screens in the winter, and leaving blinds open or elevated slightly during the day allows the air to circulate, helping prevent humidity buildup
  • Mould and/or water buildup visible inside of insulation wrap in basements
  • Vinyl floors making a “crackling” sound when walking over it, or wood floors swelling (where the edges of the boards lift higher or fit tighter than normal)
  • Doors swelling and not closing properly

Subtler signs of high humidity can be:

  • Feeling the air is noticeably cooler as you go down your basement stairs.
  • Dry foods (such as crackers and cookies) getting soft, or sugar clumping together

 

Learn how to manage humidity in your new home on our blog, Humidity in the Home: What it is and why it matters.

Activa Bonus

In 2019, Tarion surveyed over 45 thousand new home buyers and homeowners and asked them about their builder’s level of commitment to their customers and performance before, during and after they moved into their new home. We were pleased to be a 2020 Tarion Homeowners’ Choice Awards finalist in the Large Volume Builder category!

Aside from your warranty, we are dedicated to answering any questions you may have about your new home so that your Activa experience is second-to-none. For any service issues or inquiries please continue to contact your Customer Experience Coordinator during regular business hours. We will partner with our Warranty Team who will coordinate and address these concerns.

Keep in touch

Thank you for joining us in learning about our home building process. Here at Activa, we are proud to develop complete communities with the amenities people want, which means shopping, walking trails and schools are sure to be closeby. We hope you take some time to explore your new community and feel free to share your new home life with @builtbyactiva on Instagram or Facebook – you could even be featured on our page!

All of us here at Activa wish you all the best in your brand-new home!

Category: Build