Construction & Renovation: Contractor Disputes Including Workmanship Quality Concerns, Among Other Issues

Question: What are common legal disputes between contractors and property owners in Canada?

Answer: Contractor and property owner disputes are frequently seen in Canadian courts, often involving allegations of defective work or incomplete projects by the contractor, with concurrent claims of non-payment by the property owner. Navigating these cases can be intricate due to the extensive laws, necessary evidence, and independent expert evaluations of workmanship. Before pursuing litigation, both parties should consider seeking informed legal counsel to better understand contractual obligations and possible resolutions. For professional guidance tailored to your situation, reach out to Civil Litigations Paralegal Services.

Common Disputes Affecting Contractors

Court disputes between a property owner and a contractor hired for a construction or renovation project frequently arise.  In some courts, especially the Small Claims Court, cases involving contractors and homeowners are prevalent.  In such cases it is common that a property owner will accuse a contractor of poor quality work; and in turn, the contractor accuses the property owner of failure of payment.

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 allegations of poor quality of work and also include legal issues such as quantum meruit disputes over the value of partially completed work, consumer rights concerns, mitigation requirements, and much more.