Who We Are
The Homeowner Protection Office is a branch of BC Housing, a provincial Crown agency under the Ministry of Housing and Social Development. Minister Rich Coleman is the Minister of Housing and Social Development.
What We Do
The HPO is responsible for:
- licensing residential builders and building envelope renovators province-wide
- administering owner builder authorizations
- monitoring the performance of the third-party home warranty insurance system underwritten by the private sector, and
- carrying out research and education which benefits the residential construction industry and consumers.
As part of government’s review of Crown corporations, the Province transferred the administration of the Reconstruction Program to the Ministry of Finance effective April 1, 2010. HPO stopped accepting new applications for this program in July 2009. See the Ministry of Housing and Social Development Information Bulletin
As of June 30, 2010 the PST Relief Grant for owners of homes with completed building envelope repairs was terminated in conjunction with the introduction of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).
Who We Serve
The HPO serves buyers of new homes and people arranging for new homes to be built, homeowners (particularly owners of homes covered by home warranty insurance), developers, residential builders and building envelope renovators. In undertaking its activities the HPO also works closely with warranty providers, building officials, industry and related consumer associations, governments including local governments and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), educational institutions, research organizations, architects, engineers, property managers, the legal community and the real estate community.
Funding
Revenues collected from residential builder license fees and owner builder authorization fees provide the funding for the Homeowner Protection Office's (HPO) programs.
Service Plans
View BC Housing’s Service Plan which outlines priorities for the next three years. The goals and objectives in the Service Plan are tied to performance targets, including performance targets for the Homeowner Protection Office as a branch of BC Housing. Click the link below to download the current Service Plan:
Acts & Regulations
Copies of the Homeowner Protection Office’s Acts and regulations are available.
