mightbethinkingaboutit

Hi, thinking of buying a holiday/investment property in NS. Can anybody advise whether as a non-resident I will be permitted to do any/all of the required renovation/decoration work myself? Thanks.

dbd33

Anything you like, subject to the constraints limiting anyone; need to comply to code, need for inspections and so on. It may be that the work requires a building permit and that it's a bother to obtain the permit from abroad but that's an inconvenience, not a limitation.

HGerchikov

dbd33

I suppose it doesn't really matter if the government would consider that to be doing work that would otherwise be performed by a resident. If the neighbours did, and complained, that would be the path to a lot of misery. Best not involve income.

BristolUK

One of those Border service shows featured a bloke coming to visit a girlfriend and during the visit he was going to help out with some building work on her or her parents' house.

He was told he couldn't do that 'work' on his visitor's visa. Would this restriction also not apply to the "visitor" OP? Or is there an exemption working on one's own property?

scilly

Working your way through all the local regulations, getting planning permission, approvals, inspections etc etc can be a minefield, and take ages to work through. Ordinary folk often find it disconcerting and hard to understand.

The OP may find that professionals have to be hired to do lots of the work ......... eg electrical, plumbing. Structural changes will have to be approved, and size of any extensions approved and inspected.

Former Lancastrian

If he owns the property and works on it even if visiting then no work permit would be required. Although it would be considered as work as per Reg 2 he is not paying himself or expected to receive renumeration for the work being done.

BristolUK

Righto

J-A-UK

Don't get mixed up between a work permit (authorization to work in Canada) and building permit (permission to do renos)

I have found that Canada (Manitoba and Ontario) is pretty much the same as UK - You can do whatever you like with or without permission, but if the building inspector finds out you've done it without the right documentation then the effects can be dramatic and expensive.

I have no experience what so ever on GAS installations / repairs

Electrical is totally separate from any other works and needs ESA approval - You can do work in your own home but not in someone elses (unless you are licensed as an electrician) - Inspections and site visits are covered by your initial application and payment

City and Township building permits cost %% of total cost of work and you need to estimate in advance - You can get very specific permits such as "Install 27' above ground swimming pool" ($50) through to "Full Reno Permit - to include structure, plumbing and heating" ($250)

I have always gone for a full reno permit as the houses I have bought in Canada dictated that.

As with UK - The building inspector is a brilliant, intelligent, helpful, kind gentleman and treat him like that you'll get on great - Tell him how wonderful his ideas were and wonder why you didn't think of that !!

I always get the inspector in and ask for his input on the next part of my project and when passing each step outline what I am about to do next ............ I've never had an issue.

All the basics remain the same as UK - Waste water needs to run down hill and structure needs to stay Up - Simple really

Steve_

I don't quite follow that statement, I was under the impression you needed work authorization if you were doing more than simply maintenance. Not that it really matters a toss as I don't suppose CBSA are waiting in the bushes but someone did mention an episode of Border Security and I remember that one too. If you enter for the purpose of making an improvement to your property, then you can obviously resell it for more, so that is an impact on the Canadian economy and not de minimus.