Construction & Renovation:

Question:How can a paralegal and notary in Ontario help if I’m in a contractor dispute over allegedly defective work or non-payment?

Answer:In Ontario, VP Legal Services & Notary helps homeowners and contractors prepare for Small Claims Court and other civil proceedings by reviewing your renovation contract, payment/holdback issues, and the evidence behind alleged defective work or non-payment.  You can often reduce risk by documenting defects (including arranging an independent inspection where appropriate), organizing invoices, change orders, photos, and correspondence, and assessing claims that may include poor workmanship, unjust enrichment, and consumer protection considerations.  If you want next-step guidance on your position and what to do before the case escalates, call (437) 286-1499 to book a free 15-minute consultation.

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Common Disputes Affecting Contractors

Legal cases wherein the issue in dispute involves a property owner and a contractor are very common. In the Small Claims Court, disputes between a property owner and a contractor are an almost everyday occurrence. It is common that the allegations in construction law cases will involve a property owner alleging defective work or incomplete work and the contractor alleging failure of payment due.

Note: Please contact VP Legal Services & Notary by phone at: (437) 286-1499 to discuss any specific questions that you may have.

Challenges

Disputes involving construction or renovation projects are often challenging due to the many legal issues that typically apply within the realm of construction law. Common issues may involve the extent of, and quality of, evidence required, such as the need sometimes for an independent witness to inspect and provide a reports as to what workmanship was done correctly and what workmanship was done incorrectly thus whether the required workmanship standards were met. 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.

Additionally, litigation arising from construction or renovation disputes often extends into legal issues 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, among other issues.