Housing

Consumers Council of Canada’s work on housing has been influenced by initiatives at all levels of government to respond to climate change. A significant part of the Council’s work has centred around the development of a more energy efficient building code, and gauging likely impacts on and acceptance by consumers of measures to promote energy efficient housing.

More recently the Council has explored the direct and indirect impact on consumers of urban planning objectives promoting residential intensification.

Council consumer representation and research has addressed:

Residential intensification
Home energy efficiency
Consumer views on sustainable consumption
Home renovation problems
New home warranty programs

If you are concerned about consumer protection in housing, the Council encourages you to get involved.

Please contact us if you have some information you believe will assist the Council’s representation of consumers about housing-related issues.

Recent Developments

Federal Budget Makes Housing Top Priority

Spending on housing, or overall spending levels will grab most of the attention, but the 2024 Federal Budget also promises further action on many consumer protection issues. The $57 billion in new spending and projected deficits of $40 billion for 2023-24 and similar...

Regulator Revokes License of Builder, Freezes Assets of Another

Ontario’s home building regulator gained new powers to impose financial penalties on builders, then revoked the license of one builder and froze the assets of another. The Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA) gained the ability to add administrative penalties...

Condo Builder Settles With Ontario Regulator Over Deposit Refunds

Following numerous consumer complaints about cancelled contracts and unreturned deposits, an Ontario condominium builder has agreed to pay $60,000 in penalties and nearly $2.6 million to 141 affected purchasers. Ontario’s Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA)...

Related Reports

Towards a National Housing Strategy, 2016 Download

Residential Intensification: The Impact on Consumers, 2016 Download

Will Consumers Benefit from Enhanced Product Labeling on Energy-Efficient Products?, 2014 Download

Residential Intensification: Density and Its Discontents, 2014 Download

The Impact of Higher Energy Efficiency Standards on Housing Affordability in Alberta, 2012 Download

Sustainable Household Consumption: Key Considerations for a Canadian Strategy, 2009 Download

The Ontario Smart Metering Initiative – What Does It Mean for Ontario’s Residential Consumers, 2009 Download

Renovation Rip-Offs: Problems and Solutions, 2009 Download

Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Climate Change Download

Energy Efficiency and Building Codes Download

Gaps in New Home Warranty Programs Across Canada Download