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Part of Search public engagements

New homebuyer protection engagement

Albertans shared feedback to help improve homebuyer protection policies and programs on newly built homes.

Overview

We gathered feedback from Albertans on homebuyer protection polices and programs that were implemented to ensure new homes being built meet construction safety and quality standards. This engagement has been part of an ongoing review which continues to look at solutions to improve protections for buyers of new homes.

Your input helped us understand how well the current policies and programs are protecting Albertans.

The New Home Buyer Protection Act came into force in 2014 and requires every new home built in Alberta to have warranty protection and all home builders in the province to be licensed.

Timeline

  • Open

  • Results under review

  • Completed

    March 2023

Who is listening

Ministry of Municipal Affairs

Input received

Online survey

Albertans shared perspectives about homebuyer protection policies and programs on newly built homes through an online survey from November 24 to December 22, 2022.

Stakeholder engagement

We held a series of targeted, facilitated engagement sessions with stakeholder groups to better understand their concerns and perspectives.

What we heard

  • Buyers want their homes to be built to construction safety and quality standards from the start, rather than needing repairs later.

  • Albertans, industry experts and warranty providers all feel there is a need for a greater understanding of how to navigate warranty protections, and for clarity around what constitutes a defect in construction.

  • Warranties for newly constructed homes need to be reliable for everyone, including home builders, home buyers and warranty providers.

We also heard feedback on builder competencies, program applications for owner builders, the claims dispute resolution process, the mechanism of a home warranty advisory group and more.

Read more in the New Homebuyer Protection Engagement - What we heard report.

Outcomes

Your feedback helped us identify challenges and opportunities related to homebuyer protection polices and programs on newly built homes and will help inform any future updates to the New Home Buyer Protection Act, its related policies and programs.

Additional actions

We are continuing to explore ways to improve protections for buyers of new homes as part of an ongoing review. This review has led to the development of: 

Contact

Connect with the Residential Protection Program if you have questions about the act, new home warranty or builder licensing:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-644-1010
Toll free: 1-866-421-6929
Email: [email protected]

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