The City lays 49 charges against Dhaliwal Homes Ltd. for non-compliance with the Safety Codes Act

CALGARY – The City of Calgary has laid 49 charges against Dhaliwal Homes Ltd., the sole director and two agents acting on behalf of Dhaliwal Homes Ltd. for non-compliance with the Alberta Safety Codes Act. Additionally, two charges of failing to comply with the City of Calgary’s Land Use By-law 1P2007 under the Municipal Government Act have also been laid against Dhaliwal Homes Ltd. and the sole administrator.

These charges follow a three-month investigation by Calgary Building Services. Violations of the Safety Codes Act relate to the construction of two semi-detached properties and include:

· Building without municipal building permit for both houses and detached garages.

· Building without the necessary safety code inspections (electrical, gas, plumbing and building) in progress.

· Knowingly submitting false and misleading information regarding permits, inspections and occupancy permits.

Building permits ensure that residential development meets local safety standards for land use, zoning and building and certifies that work is being carried out in accordance with building standards set out in Alberta’s Safety Codes Act .

“Building security breaches pose a serious risk to property owners and the community at large,” said Cliff de Jong, building security manager. “The seriousness and scale of these breaches and the impact on unsuspecting potential buyers in this hot real estate market has led the City of Calgary to conduct a investigate and file a complaint. »

Alberta Safety Codes are designed to protect the public, ensure compliance and deter developers of unsafe practices. Dhaliwal Homes Ltd. may be fined up to $100,000.00 per violation and/or imprisonment for not more than six months if convicted of safety code violations and fined maximum of $10,000 and/or imprisonment for up to one year on both counts under the Municipal Administration Act. This case will be heard in the Provincial Court of Alberta in Calgary.

“The City of Calgary’s position is to ensure compliance, protect the public and mitigate building safety issues,” says de Jong. “The City of Calgary has zero tolerance for this type of building safety violation and will prosecute when developers fail to comply with safety requirements set out in the Safety Codes Act.”

Citizens looking to buy a home in Calgary are strongly encouraged to:

· Hire a professional real estate attorney for any residential deal in Calgary.

· Ask sellers to produce copies of their inspection report and building and business permits for any new construction or major renovations to the interior or exterior of the home.

· Check the proof of identification (business license and building permit) of a residential developer before submitting deposits or intention to purchase agreements.

Homeowners can verify zoning and permits obtained for a potential purchase by searching the address of properties in My Property (calgary.ca).

-30-