Tarion is a little "Empire" constructed for builders for builders to make it easy for builders to "control" the new home buyers of Ontario. Tarion is about as effective as the Ontario Lottery Corporation in protecting itself.

Anyone ever wondered where all the money Tarion collects from each one of us is going?? I wonder how much all of the directors (Builders) are being paid. Something is starting to smell here

Tarion is the biggest scam ever perpetrated on the new home buying public by a provincial government. What lame politicians decided to give autonomous power to a private corporation dedicated to protect builders at the expense of new homeowners? Now their mistakes have allowed Tarion to become the worst warranty provider in Canada. The government refuses to listen to dissatisfied homeowners and continues to be impotent in controlling a organization that is clearly power hungry. Tarion with its predominantly builder based board of directors, demonstrates an outright conflict of interest. From what I have witnessed I believe you have to check your integrity at the door to work in this industry. Morally I could not victimize people who only want a decently built home, something that seems to come so easy for them to do. Tarions building standards are so low (obvious from all the complaints) that the very worst builders have no problem surviving in this industry. I would hate to be a victim of such minimal Tarion standards, wait a minute, come to think of it my so called house construction was so pitiful, maybe I already am.

With any luck we may see some real integrity in action if the Ombudsman of Ontario is given oversight control over Tarion. The new home warranty program and the LAT system of justice are seriously flawed. Tarion with their win at any cost attitude is willing to spend incredible amounts of money hiring top outside legal counsel and the builder is allowed to hide behind their skirts. With the 2006 results of LAT decisions made public it is certainly not a favorable option for homeowners with or without a lawyer. You are better off to sidestep the LAT and take the builder to court. Those who have been subjected to substandard construction should have other alternatives to resolve their issues.

Our dealings with Tarion for a condo in Toronto were, to put it mildly - disturbing. Complete disregard to Health and Safety regulations, with a threat of un-warranting an item if our Builder was not allowed access with carcinogenic substances into the home! The item in question was then un-warranted!
Too many inconsistent rulings AND the assessment reports came back with a lot of contradicting rulings - indicating Tarion staff are not knowlegable in the very Act (New HOme Warranties Act) that they are administering!

Tarion is the biggest scam ever perpetrated on the new home buying public by a provincial government. What lame politicians decided to give autonomous power to a private corporation dedicated to protect builders at the expense of new homeowners? Now their mistakes have allowed Tarion to become the worst warranty provider in Canada. The government refuses to listen to dissatisfied homeowners and continues to be impotent in controlling a organization that is clearly power hungry. Tarion with its predominantly builder based board of directors, demonstrates an outright conflict of interest. From what I have witnessed I believe you have to check your integrity at the door to work in this industry. Morally I could not victimize people who only want a decently built home, something that seems to come so easy for them to do. Tarions building standards are so low (obvious from all the complaints) that the very worst builders have no problem surviving in this industry. I would hate to be a victim of such minimal Tarion standards, wait a minute, come to think of it my so called house construction was so pitiful, maybe I already am.

With any luck we may see some real integrity in action if the Ombudsman of Ontario is given oversight control over Tarion. The new home warranty program and the LAT system of justice are seriously flawed. Tarion with their win at any cost attitude is willing to spend incredible amounts of money hiring top outside legal counsel and the builder is allowed to hide behind their skirts. With the 2006 results of LAT decisions made public it is certainly not a favorable option for homeowners with or without a lawyer. You are better off to sidestep the LAT and take the builder to court. Those who have been subjected to substandard construction should have other alternatives to resolve their issues.

If you read their website you will see the following description which in part states that Tarion "resolves warranty disputes between builders/vendors and homeowners, and promotes high standards of construction among Ontario’s new home builders." They simply deny claims and there we go the warranty dispute is resolved, only its in the builders favour. If they consider what they allow as promoting high standards of construction, they need to live in these shoddy homes and see what people have to deal with.

Rate Your Builder Blog

How effective is Tarion?
June 2, 2007

Probably any homeowner that ever sought assistance from Tarion now condemns this Agency as a henchman for the Ontario construction industry. Likewise lawyers, engineers and tradesmen in the industry who have had exposure assisting the homeowner recognize the complicity of Tarion with the construction industry.

Don’t even think about revamping Tarion! Tarion is beyond repair. The Ontario government must revoke the Home Warranty Act and terminate Tarion. The construction industry, already have their own building associations with deep pockets, lobbyists and lawyers.

Homeowners do need a new Consumer Agency and legislated by the Ontario government to protect the interests of the vulnerable homeowner. The new Agency would ensure that:
1. the homeowner is adequately informed by access to a Report Card on Builders
2. Agency lawyers would prepare contracts for the homeowner that adequately protect him
3. Agency staff will promptly respond to the homeowner’s complaint
4. Agency’s staff and lawyers will move into action as would his own automobile insurance company to represent him
5. the Agency promptly reimburses the homeowner for justifiable losses
6. the homeowner and his family can get on with their lives!

Isn’t that the way your own automobile insurance company would serve you?