History of the Residential Guarantee Plan

Before January 1, 2015, two guarantee plans were in effect. These plans were managed by the Association provinciale des constructeurs d’habitations du Québec (Garantie Abritat) and the Association des entrepreneurs en construction (Garantie Qualité Habitation). Both were led by associations of entrepreneurs, whose mandate included promoting and defending their members’ interests.

Over the years, it has become apparent that the administrators of guarantee plans find themselves in a situation of apparent conflict of interest as they were managing interests opposed to their own. These two guarantee plan administrators, led by contractors' associations, were responsible for monitoring and supervising the work of the contractors for the benefit of the buyers.

The overriding motive that led the legislator to set up an independent non-profit organization was to better protect the interests of the buyer.

Since January 1, 2015, the only body authorized to administer the guarantee plan is the Garantie de construction residentielle (GCR), a non-profit, neutral and independent organization, which has the mandate to administer the guarantee plan for residential buildings new in Quebec.

Did you buy under an old plan?

Note that Garantie de construction residentielle(GCR) has acted as the plan administrator only since January 1, 2015. For previous constructions, you must contact the organizations that administered your guarantee plan, either Abritator Qualité Habitation.

To determine who the administrator of your home’s guarantee plan is, you must check the date of receipt and the date of completion. These facts will tell you what coverage is applicable and who the administrators of the guarantee plan are.

Since January 1, 2015, the Régie du Bâtiment du Québec has set up a provisional administration to oversee and control the Abritat and Qualité Habitation administrators. The following two firms were chosen:

• Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton for Abritat
• PricewaterhouseCoopers for Qualité Habitation.

Note that this rule is only applicable to buyers of houses that were registered with the old guarantee plans before 2015, and whose work may have ended later.

In any case, regardless of who your administrator is, the claim process is provided for by the Regulation respecting the guarantee plan in the event of the discovery of a deficiency in the building. Contact your temporary administrator to find out more about the procedure and follow up on your request.