Strike stimulates ‘underground’ renos
Ashley Ford
Province
Vancouver builder Todd Best has seen it all in the sloppy-work department. Ric Ernst – The Province
It’s open season for Vancouver‘s multibillion-dollar underground home-renovation economy as the civic strike grinds on.
Peter Simpson, CEO of the Greater Vancouver Home Builders Association, says frustrated homeowners and those seeking illegal renovations and other work are fuelling the under-the-table market.
“With the watchful eyes of city building inspectors switched off, increasing numbers of homeowners are willing to take the enormous risk of bypassing the permit process and paying under the table.
“We have always been concerned about the underground economy, but the situation caused by this strike is just fanning the flames,” Simpson said.
Members of the homebuilders association are becoming increasingly frustrated and angry as they play by the rules and then see work taken away from them, he said.
Homeowners need to understand they’re taking a huge risk when they deal with cash and no contract, Simpson said.
“I have four words for homeowners: Get it in writing.
“Without a contract they are exposing themselves to many risks.
“The owner is deemed by the authorities to be the contractor and ultimately responsible for all health and safety provisions, local building departments and possible other liability issues.”
Todd Best, owner of Best Building, describes himself as a “rescue renovator” and often finds himself fixing up poor construction left by unqualified “cash” builders.
Fixing up a mess can get expensive, he said.
“We have done half-a-dozen or so rescue renovations in the last couple of years. These guys have no ideas about building codes and the work you see is often dangerous,” he said.
“We were called in to one job that started out as a $300,000 project but ended up costing $1.3 million to put right. The second floor addition was literally falling off.”
Best has seen it all in the sloppy-work department, including a wiring job that used a lawnmower extension cord.
“I believe the situation is getting worse and all I seek is a level playing field,” he said.
At the best of times, building inspectors are stretched woefully thin, he said.
“Now there is nothing in Vancouver and I believe that nine out of 10 times the city won’t catch illegal or substandard additions and renovations,” he said.
The renovation business is a huge part of overall housing construction across the Lower Mainland.
– Last year, some 22,045 direct and indirect jobs were created by home renovation and repair activity.
– About $2.8 billion will be spent in the Lower Mainland this year on home renovation and repair work.
– On average, Vancouverites spend more on renovations than other major Canadian cities. Vancouver residents spend $14,425 per household annually, compared with an average of $11,302 for 10 other cities.
The homebuilders association holds two seminars annually, with the next coming this fall, explaining the workings of the renovation sector and how to hire a legitimate contractor.
© The Vancouver Province 2007