Tarion Piloting A New Early Resolution Process To Enhance Consumer Outcomes
To help resolve warranty disputes earlier, Tarion is implementing a pilot program for homes in their first and second year in the Ottawa region to create an earlier opportunity for Tarion to assess specific disputed warranty items while the builder repair period is still underway. The objective is to give homeowners and builders clearer information about warranty coverage and help them move unresolved items toward resolution earlier. The pilot will run from October 13, 2026 – April 9, 2027.
As part of the pilot, an eligible builder may request that Tarion conduct an early conciliation for specific items on a homeowner’s statutory warranty form where they are uncertain about warranty coverage. The fee to request the conciliation is $800 plus HST, payable by the builder and is non-refundable.
The applicable legislation, regulations and Registrar Bulletins continue to govern the warranty process under the pilot. If a request is accepted under the pilot, Tarion will assess the identified item during the builder repair period and issue a Conciliation Assessment Report (CAR) within 30 days. The builder is required to make necessary repairs within 60 days and if the item is not resolved, Tarion will work directly to resolve the claim with the homeowner. Chargeability will be assessed at the claim inspection.
Participation in the pilot is subject to Tarion’s review and discretion, and Tarion may decline a request that does not align with the pilot’s dispute resolution purpose, which is intended to address uncertainty about warranty coverage and not as a substitute for reasonable investigation, communication, or repair efforts.
The pilot process is set out below and further information is available in FAQ
Early Inspection Pilot Process
A warranty form is submitted
The homeowner submits a statutory warranty form. The pilot applies only to first- or second-year warranty claims in the Ottawa region.
The builder identifies a specific dispute
Between days 30 and 90 of the initial builder repair period, the builder may ask Tarion to assess one or more specific items where warranty coverage is unclear. The builder must identify the items and provide relevant documentation. To initiate the request, the builder can email earlyintervention@tarion.com or contact Tarion's Customer Service team at 1-877-982-7466.
Tarion reviews the request
Tarion decides whether the request is appropriate for the pilot. Requests may be denied where the process is not being used for its intended dispute resolution purpose, including where reasonable efforts have not been made to resolve the issue directly, the dispute is not about the claimed item (i.e. access) or the item requires further investigation by the builder or a consultant.
The fee is paid and the homeowner is notified
If the request is accepted, the builder pays the non-refundable fee of $800 plus HST. Tarion notifies the homeowner and schedules the early conciliation as soon as possible, and no later than 30 days after receiving the payment.
Tarion conducts the early conciliation
A Tarion Warranty Services Representative assesses the identified items. The homeowner is expected to provide access and permit the builder to attend. Where helpful, an Early Intervention Representative may also attend to support progress on other unresolved matters.
Tarion issues its assessment
Tarion issues a Conciliation Assessment Report within 30 days of the inspection. The report identifies whether the assessed items are warranted. An item may be placed under investigation, or further investigation may be recommended to the builder.
Warranted items move to resolution
The builder is given 60 days after the report is issued to repair any warranted items. Tarion may shorten or extend this period depending on the nature of the item. If the item is not resolved, if applicable chargeability will apply and Tarion will work directly to resolve the claim with the homeowner.
Any remaining issues continue through the regular process
The early conciliation does not limit the homeowner’s ability to request conciliation for other eligible items. Where Tarion considers it appropriate, additional homeowner items may be addressed at the early conciliation. Items not included in the early conciliation are assessed separately under the regular process.
Effective January 2027 - Provincial Government Introducing New Information Sheets, Addenda, and Cooling-Off Period
The Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement has introduced regulatory changes coming into effect January 1, 2027, to implement Ontario’s new home information sheets for buyers and to support the implementation of a 10-day cooling-off period for buyers of new freehold homes.
Please Note: For new freehold home purchases, the information sheet and addendum must be completed and included as part of the purchase agreement delivered to the buyer for the purchase agreement to be binding on the buyer, and for the 10-day cooling-off period to begin.
You can find the Home Construction Regulatory Authority’s (HCRA) directives on the changes, as well as copies of the required new home information sheets and updated addenda on the HCRA’s Directives and Advisories page.