‘Be a man of your word’: Request to local homebuilder

A deeper look at who’s to take responsibility when a dream home turns into a nightmare. CTV Windsor’s Stefanie Masotti reports.

A Belle River couple is calling out Everjonge Homes Ltd. for not following up on their promise.

“Just stand by your product and fix it. That is all we have ever asked,” said Michael Beaudoin and his wife Suzanne.

Following an independent engineering report and an evaluation from a Sarnia homebuilder, they were told the home needs to be stripped down and repaired that could cost them upwards of $1 million.

The couple tell CTV News Windsor they have taken out a second mortgage but have run out of money to finish the work.

They wish they requested their own home inspection before purchasing the 2,500 sq. ft. new construction home but say, due to the hot housing market, they were advised by their real estate agent against it.

“We were told (by the real estate agent) we were protected by Tarion, said Michael Beaudoin. “We learned very hard that if a home inspector would have come through, they would have noticed things right away that we did question, but they know better.”

The moved into the house 2016. That same year, they filed a claim with Tarion, a not-for-profit consumer protection organization, established by the Ontario Government. Tarion promises to protect new construction homebuyers with a seven-year warranty.

“It was a big fight to get them to help with us,” said Suzanne Beaudoin.

Tarion ordered the homebuilder, Everjonge Homes Ltd, to make repairs but the Beaudoin’s describe the work as a ‘band-aid solution.’

In 2019, Tarion provided $53,000 after a second warranty claim — money the Beaudoin’s used to fix a major leak.

Tarion tells CTV News the homeowners reached out again in 2021 about filing a major structural defect form — but never completed it.

The Beaudoin’s say Tarion said the water damage and mold in their home was not considered structural and therefore did not qualify.

They have since filed a lawsuit — but Everjonge homes declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.

The seven-year warranty has expired but Tarion writes in an email:

“We encourage the homeowners to file a further warranty form with us...it is possible that Tarion may be able to engage the builder in trying to find a resolution – as we have seen in other cases where the warranty has expired.”

The Beaudoin’s also questioned the role of building inspectors from the Municipality of Lakeshore. The Ontario Building Code requires them to give their stamp of approval during each stage of construction.

When questioned about the roles and responsibilities of the municipality to ensure window, doors and the envelop membrane of the house are waterproofed, official say in part:

“At this time, the Municipality of Lakeshore has not been contacted by the property owner to review or discuss the building permit process.”

“A home is, for most families, the largest purchase you ever make,” said John Revell, City of Windsor, chief building inspector. “It can be a financial drain.”

Revell says Building inspections are periodic spot checks, not exhaustive reviews but he says this was not always the case. Over the last 20 years there has been a drastic decline in licenced building inspectors across the entire province.

He says today, deficiencies fall on the shoulders of homebuilders to ensure proper installation and the homeowner thereafter to maintain.

As for where things stand today, a last plea for help to Everjonge Homes.

“Be a man of your word,” said Michael Beaudoin.