Construction & Renovation:

Question: What disputes commonly arise between a property owner and a contractor in Ontario, and when should I talk to a paralegal?

Answer: If you’re dealing with defective workmanship, incomplete repairs, or payment disputes in Ontario, a paralegal can help you understand your options for claims that may involve breach of contract issues, valuation of completed work, unjust enrichment, or consumer-protection related concerns, and guide next steps for gathering evidence like photos, contracts, timelines, and witness info to support your position in court such as Small Claims Court (up to $35,000 per plaintiff).  Vagans Legal provides practical, Ontario-wide support for property owners and contractors facing construction and renovation disputes, including help assessing leverage, risks, and potential outcomes so you can make informed decisions and protect your legal rights; call (416) 473-8472 to get started today.

Common Disputes Affecting Contractors

The disputes between a property owner and those hired to perform project work, whether as construction or renovation or maintenance projects, frequently end up in court.  In some courts, such as the Small Claims Court, with a $35,000 limit per Plaintiff, defective workmanship cases are among some of the most commonly occurring cases.  Allegations often include defective work or incomplete work.

Challenges

Construction law cases can be very challenging to litigate due to the extent of laws involves as well as the extent of evidence usually involved and the need for independent witnesses to inspect and provide expert reports as to what constitutes as proper workmanship and thus whether the trade standards or the contractual specifications for the project were met, valuation of the portion of work properly completed, among other things; and accordingly, even the seasoned legal professional may find construction law cases as burdensome to litigate. Disputes involving construction or renovation projects are often additionally troublesome as contractors and property owners alike will frequently begin a lawsuit without first obtaining proper legal advice.

Furthermore, lawsuits involving construction or renovation projects commonly include legal issues that go beyond defective workmanship issues and may also include concerns such as unjust enrichment, consumer protection laws, failures to mitigate, among other concerns.