Real Estate & Construction Newsletter Winter/Spring 2015

On October 7, the Government of British Columbia introduced Bill 20 in the B.C. legislature. Bill 20 implements long-anticipated reforms aimed at providing greater payment and cash-flow certainty for stakeholders...

The Government of Canada has announced a two-year extension to an existing ban on foreign ownership of Canadian housing.

Many professionals (accountants, engineers, lawyers, dentists and other health professionals) operate through professional corporations believing this structure protects their personal assets from business liabilities. A recent Alberta Court of King's Bench decision serves as a reminder that this assumption can be wrong, and costly.

Starting in 2027, all Ontario project owners with contracts entered into on or after January 1, 2026, and most owners with contracts dating back to July 1, 2018, must start releasing statutory holdback to their contractors on an annual basis. This requirement is the latest in a series of construction payment reforms under Ontario’s Construction Act. It replaces the traditional model of retaining holdback until substantial performance. Owners and contractors who fail to comply with the notice and payment timelines face exposure to interest claims, payment disputes, and adjudication proceedings.

Discovering that your rental property has been damaged by a tenant can be a frustrating and costly experience. Landlords often wonder what their rights are and how they can legally recover the costs of repairs.

In KingSett Mortgage Corporation v Lumina Eclipse Limited Partnership, 2026 BCSC 1598, the Supreme Court of British Columbia confirmed that a developer’s failure to disclose material facts...

Dealing with a tenant who refuses to leave your property can be a stressful and frustrating experience. As a landlord, you have responsibilities to your tenant, but you also have rights that protect your property and financial interests

Buying a home with friends, a partner, or family in Ontario? Property co-ownership can help buyers pool their down payment and qualify for a mortgage.

Since April 1, 2021, residential projects of at least 450 m² (about 5 units or more) in Montréal have been subject to the By-law for a Diverse Metropolis (the BDM).

Despite repeated interest rate hikes over the past year, the real estate market in many major Canadian cities remains resilient, and construction of new housing continues to grow.