Christopher
Lamb fined $150,000; Hira
Custom Homes licence refused
TORONTO, April 24,
2024 /CNW/ - The Home Construction Regulatory
Authority (HCRA) has taken action against two Ontario home builders following investigations
into illegal and unethical conduct.
Christopher Lamb and his
former company Novel Condominiums, also known as 1970175 Ontario
Inc., have been found guilty of 26 charges of selling new homes
illegally, and fined a total of more than $150,000 by the Provincial Offences Court. The
convictions are a result of the HCRA's investigation which revealed
they had illegally entered into 26 Agreements of Purchase and Sale
with new home buyers.
The HCRA has taken action against Hira Custom Homes Inc. of
Cambridge, denying the company a
licence following complaints of unethical conduct around a home
sale in Caledon. The HCRA
investigation concluded that before declaring bankruptcy in
April 2023, Hira attempted to sell
homes that were already under an Agreement of Purchase and Sale,
unjustifiably increased prices, did not comply with conditions on
its licence, and provided false information to both purchasers and
the HCRA.
"In one case, several new homes were being sold without a
licence – which is illegal. In the other, there was a failure to
conduct business with honesty, integrity and in accordance with the
law," says Wendy Moir, the HCRA's
Chief Executive Officer and Registrar. "Both cases reinforce the
importance of new home buyers making an informed decision by
checking the Ontario Builder Directory to learn about a
builder before doing business with them."
The Ontario Builder Directory provides information on companies,
including their licensing status, related Principals, Directors and
Officers, and their conduct history with the regulator.
"No one is permitted to take a shortcut or skirt around the
rules. If you want to sell new homes in Ontario, you must be licensed by the HCRA and
meet our professional standards and expectations," Moir says.
About the HCRA
The Home Construction Regulatory Authority is responsible for
regulating and licensing the people and companies who build and
sell new homes in Ontario. The
HCRA enforces high professional standards for competence and
conduct in the homebuilding industry, giving new home buyers
confidence in one of the biggest purchases of their lives. The HCRA
also maintains consistency across the sector, curtailing unethical
and illegal builders.
In addition to licensing, the HCRA provides educational
information for consumers on their home buying journey and hosts
the Ontario Builder Directory – the authoritative source of
background information about each of Ontario's more than 6,500 new home builders
and vendors.
Contact:
Tess Lin
media@hcraontario.ca
SOURCE Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA)