Alberta homebuyer protections survey open

Alberta is looking for feedback on homebuyer protections.

People are being invited to fill out an online survey, giving them an opportunity to weigh in on things like warranty and builder licensing.

The government says it will use the information to understand the effectiveness of protection policies and programs in place, and work on improving the experience of buying a home.

The survey will be available online until Dec. 22.

“Buying a new home is often the biggest purchase Albertans will make and they should have confidence in the quality of houses they are buying,” said Minister of Municipal Affairs Rebecca Schulz. “Our goal is to protect the investments of hard-working Albertans by ensuring homes being built are meeting safety and quality standards.”

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The Alberta government says ensuring quality not only reduces the risks for homebuyers but can also help the economy, locals, and newcomers.

“The New Home Buyer Protection Act came into force on Feb. 1, 2014, to increase consumer protection, improve residential building quality and increase accountability of residential builders and warranty providers,” reads a release.

The act requires all home builders to be licenced and for every new home built to be covered by a warranty.

The mandatory warranty includes one year for materials and labour, two years for delivery and distribution systems, five years for building envelope, and 10 years for structural defects.

“The superintendent of insurance (under Treasury Board and Finance) regulates insurance companies, including those that provide new home warranties,” read the release.