Summerland,Penticton, Okanagan Success Stories and Happenings: Penticton's Tim Achtemichuk, Compliance Investigator, The Homeowner Protection Office (HPO) BC Housing

Who We Are

The Homeowner Protection Office (HPO) is a branch of BC Housing, a provincial Crown agency under the Ministry of Energy and Mines. Minister Rich Coleman is the Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Housing.

What We Do

The HPO is responsible for:

licensing residential builders and building envelope renovators province-wide
administering owner builder authorizations, and
carrying out research and education which benefits the residential construction industry and consumers.

As part of government’s review of Crown corporations, the Province transferred the administration of the Reconstruction Program to the Ministry of Finance effective April 1, 2010. HPO stopped accepting new applications for this program in July 2009. See the Ministry of Housing and Social Development Information Bulletin

As of June 30, 2010 the PST Relief Grant for owners of homes with completed building envelope repairs was terminated in conjunction with the introduction of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).

Who We Serve

The HPO serves buyers of new homes and people arranging for new homes to be built, homeowners (particularly owners of homes covered by home warranty insurance), developers, residential builders, building envelope renovators and ownerbuilders. In undertaking its activities the HPO also works closely with warranty providers, building officials, industry and related consumer associations, all levels of government, educational institutions, research organizations, architects, engineers, property managers, the legal community and the real estate community.

Funding

Revenues collected from residential builder license fees and owner builder authorization fees provide the funding for the Homeowner Protection Office's (HPO) programs.

Service Plans

View BC Housing’s Service Plan which outlines priorities for the next three years. The goals and objectives in the Service Plan are tied to performance targets, including performance targets for the Homeowner Protection Office as a branch of BC Housing. Click the link below to download the current Service Plan: