Definition : Régie du bâtiment du Québec (Québec Building Board) - Licence

May 3, 2022- The duty of maintenance and conservation of the building that falls to the administrators of a co-ownership involves one day doing business with construction contractors. Whether it is to replace the roof, renovate the entrance hall or repair brick siding and masonry, it is important to be vigilant when awarding such contracts, given their often very high costs. As agents of the syndicate, directors must act with caution, in order to protect the interests of the community of co-owners. This translates into various rules that should be followed, especially when the work is important:  

Until December 31, 2014, the mandatory warranty plan was administered by various organizations associated with the builders' associations, namely The APCHQ's New Home Warranty, The Abritât Guarantee Inc. and Qualité Habitation. In order to eliminate any appearance of conflict of interest, the Regulation respecting the guarantee plan for new residential buildings has been amended. Thus, the government constituted a regulatory framework allowing the creation of a new single joint body in this area, which would be made up, in part, of as many consumer representatives as manufacturers.  

Le conseil de base en construction: s'assurer que l'entrepreneur qui sera retenu soit titulaire d'une licence de la Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ). Rappelons que quiconque exécute des travaux de construction ou en fait exécuter doit être titulaire d’une telle licence, à moins d’en être exempté par la Loi sur le bâtiment. Or, ce conseil est-il toujours gage de qualité? En guise de lancement de la 27e saison de l’émission La facture présentée sur les ondes d’ICI Radio-Canada, le sujet a été abordé. Il était notamment question de la licence accordée par la Régie du bâtiment du Québec aux entrepreneurs en construction ainsi que de la surveillance des travaux dans la province de Québec.    

Notre syndicat de copropriétaires doit, sous peu, faire entreprendre des travaux de réfection de la dalle de garage de l'immeuble. En tant qu'administrateur, nous avons consulté un ingénieur pour que ce dernier élabore un devis. Nous sommes rendu à l'étape de faire entreprendre exécuter les travaux. Compte tenu de l'importance des coûts, nous questionnons sur le choix de l'entrepreneur. Question: Comment choisir le bon entrepreneur?

  In compliance with its legal obligations to preserve the building, a syndicate of co-owners is frequently called upon to retain the services of contractors over the years to carry out, among other things, conversion work in the common portions. In this regard, the directors forming the board of directors of the syndicate have the obligation to act with prudence, honesty and loyalty and in the interest of the community of co-owners, in accordance with Article 322 of the Civil Code of Québec, when awarding a construction contract to one or more contractors. With this in mind, can directors contract with a contractor who offers the syndicate a competitive price in return for a cash payment "under the table", i.e., without paying or remitting the taxes usually payable?

Real estate developers who are not the holders of the appropriate license for the construction of the Régie du Bâtiment du Québec may have a legal existence, be listed in the yellow pages and advertise in newspapers or on the Web. However, before signing a preliminary contract for the purchase of an apartment in a new construction, make sure that the chosen developer is accredited by Garantie de construction residentialielle (GCR) and holder of the sub-category of a license from from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ), depending on the type of buildings (house or condo) you want to acquire.

The Guarantee Plan for New Residential Buildings differs from the private guarantee plans offered on the market by the nature of the guarantees offered and the mechanisms for asserting its rights. In this regard, the terms and conditions are set out in the the Regulation respecting the guarantee plan for new residential buildings, which is the responsibility of the Régie du Bâtiment du Québec (RBQ). Finally, unlike private guarantee plans, any purchaser of a building covered by this plan automatically benefits from it. As this is a system aimed at the minimum protection of consumers'rights, consumers cannot waive this mandatory guarantee, even if they sign a document to that effect.

When purchasing a new recently built condo or buying “off plan”, you will be compelled to sign a preliminary contract with the vendor (developer or builder). Before signing this contract you should insist that it provides a condition giving you the opportunity to carry out a due diligence to obtain all the relevant information you will need to make a rational decision. .Even in this day and age only a handful of consumers go through the trouble of following the steps crucial to a purchase in full knowledge of the facts and of the legal concepts allowing them to exercise, as needed, their withdrawal right. Keep in mind that neglecting such precautions could, eventually, lead to a major conflict with your vendor.

When you buy in a newly built divided co-ownership, a portion of the fractions of the building (apartment, parking or storage space, etc.), or even all, can be the subject of a notice of legal hypothec of construction. The Civil Code of Quebec introduced this hypothec in order to protect the persons who participated in its construction or renovation (architect, engineer, supplier of materials, workman, contractor or subcontractor) so that they can be reimbursed for work and services carried out on an immovable. As a buyer, will you be required to pay the developer's debts if it defaults on its construction creditors? If so, will the amounts claimed be distributed among all co-owners? And what will happen if they refuse to pay?