What role does a lawyer play in a new home purchase?
What are my responsibilities when I inspect my home at possession?
What is the Alberta New Home Warranty Program?
Can I put a Shed in my yard?
What is a Swale?
My neighbour doesn’t cut their grass. Is there anything you can do to help?
My neighbour has a boat parked in their driveway – is this against our community code?
What’s the Difference Between a Community and Residents Association?
Q. What role does a lawyer play in a new home purchase?
A. You need a lawyer to protect your legal interests, such as ensuring the property that you are buying does not have any building or statutory liens or encumbrances on the property associated with it. He or she will review all contracts before you sign them, especially the Offer (or Agreement) to Purchase. Having a lawyer involved in the process will give you peace of mind and ensure that things go as smoothly as possible.
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Q. What are my responsibilities when I inspect my home at possession?
A. There are two main things to look for in your Occupancy Inspection:
1) Deficiencies – these are details in the home that have not been completed at the time of inspection. Seasonal deficiencies are the most common as it is may be impractical to complete the some of the required work when the weather does not co-operate.
2) Defects – these are items that have already been installed at the time of inspection but may require more work to bring it up to a standard level of quality. These are generally cosmetic details that can easily be spotted during inspection.
For helpful guidelines and what to do if you spot a defect visit www.albertanewhomewarranty.com
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Q. What is the Alberta New Home Warranty Program?
A. The Alberta New Home Warranty program is not an insurance company, nor is it a government organization. It is a private, not-for-profit company established in 1974 by home building industry leaders. The essential part of The Alberta New Home Warranty Program’s function is to provide a process for resolving problem issues between builders and buyers. This process recognizes and respects the contractual relationship which a builder a purchaser have. For more information visit www.albertanewhomewarranty.com
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Q. Can I put a Shed in my yard?
A. Homeowners must check with the City to ensure the bylaw will permit a shed.
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Q. What is a Swale?
A. A swale is concrete structure designed to direct overland water passage to an appropriate collection location. Homeowners are obligated to maintain swales located on individual properties by keeping them clear of debris and/or structures. This obligation is protected by an Overland Drainage Easement registered on title.
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Q. My neighbour doesn’t cut their grass. Is there anything you can do to help?
A.The City of Calgary is the resource to contact for neighbour issues. They have a “Community Standards Bylaw” that covers:
- Addressing
- Composting
- Donation and Recycling Sites
- Excavations and Ponding of Water
- Fire on Premises (i.e. fire pits)
- Graffiti
- Weeds and Grass
- Maintenance of Accessory Building Structures and Fences
- Noise
- Nuisances Escaping Property (i.e. water, eaves-troughs and downspouts, smoke, dust, light, flyers, debris)
- Untidy Properties
Please refer to the city website for more information or call the City of Calgary Hotline at 311.
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Q. My neighbour has a boat parked in their driveway – is this against our community code?
A. Developers generally do not have jurisdiction over what residents do on their property. The City of Calgary Community Standards Bylaw covers untidy properties. Please refer to the city website for more information or call the City of Calgary Hotline at 311.
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Q. What’s the Difference Between a Community and Residents Association?
A. A Residents Association has full-time dedicated staff, whereas a Community Association is a volunteer organization.
Residents Association’s maintain certain amenities in the community that may not necessarily be maintained by the city and provide additional recreational programming and events . The Community Association is involved in community matters (Soccer Registration and other community and City run programs.) and is the voice of the community to lobby the government and City on certain initiatives.
The Residents Association is a not-for-profit company. They have mandatory membership of all property owners and an assured source of revenue to fund its operations whereas a Community Association has an optional membership and is dependent upon sponsorship and fundraising to operate.
More information about Residents Associations.
