Legally Speaking Owner-Builders Liable For Poor Construction #489

Since the last Legally Speaking on this topic,1 the Supreme Court of British Columbia has awarded significant damages against two owner-builders for poor construction…

Legally Speaking What’s Up (With the) Dock? #479

Waterfront properties with private docks are looking attractive at this time of the year, particularly with the weather we’ve been enjoying this summer…

Legally Speaking Option, Payment to Lawyer of Optionee Invalid Exercise of Option; Confirmation Added to Addendum, of Discussion With Seller, Was Not a Counteroffer #331

An owner who sold a building lot took back an option to repurchase it if the buyer did not construct a dwelling house upon it by a fixed date…

Legally Speaking Building Scheme, Developer to Approve Plan, is this a Conflict of Interest? #308

A building scheme generally gives a developer the right to approve the plans for homes to be constructed upon the newly created lots…

Legally Speaking Condominiums Presold – Minor or Substantial Changes to Preconstruction Plans #290

One of the decisions referred to in Column #269 discussed whether changes made during the course of construction to the plans of condominiums, which had been presold before construction…

Legally Speaking Principal Residence – Calculations and Exemptions #147

A taxpayer bought a home and occupied it as his principal residence for 18 months and then rented one-third of it for 46 months. He then sold the home for a gain of $52,000, which the Minister of National Revenue…

Legally Speaking New Home Contract – Damages for Incomplete or Deficient Work, and for Stress #132

The plans were for a home with unusual design features to be constructed by a competent contractor experienced in the construction of standard design homes only…

Legally Speaking Restrictive Covenants – Cancellation or Modification #76

It’s been a hot summer and not just in the forests. The stack of listings you had in June have sold, disappearing as rapidly as pancakes at a loggers’ breakfast…

Legally Speaking Salespersons’ Duty to Obtain Highest Price – Part 2 #75

You have listed for sale a house, to be described in the ad as a handyman’s special, which is located on a heavily-trafficked road in the middle of two blocks of mixed residential tenancy and low profit non-conforming…

Legally Speaking Builders Lien Clause #69

I recently reviewed a proposed contract for the purchase of a lot and a home to be constructed by the owner/builder…

Legally Speaking Builders Liens #70

Column #69 which discussed a Builders Lien clause resulted in questions which indicate that there is some confusion as to when liens may be filed and lien holdbacks may be paid out…

Legally Speaking Defects, Duty to Disclose Those That Are Reasonably Discoverable #66

We import more than fruit, vegetables, movies and the Beach Boys from California; now we may be importing their law…

Legally Speaking Liability for Both a Limited Company and the Employee, Resulting From the Actions of the Employees #14

A recent case illustrates the liability which may attach to both a limited company and the employee of the limited company, resulting from the actions of the employees…

Legally Speaking Issues for Developers, Easements and Subdivision Plans #11

You own seventeen acres of vacant land in West Vancouver for which you have obtained approval of a plan of subdivision which requires the dedication of a road along the northern boundary of your property…