This London, Ont., complex was built in 2017 — one-third of its townhomes have had leaks
Six months after Simon Huo purchased his brand new townhouse in July 2017, he began to experience water problems that soon escalated into a major issue affecting not only him but also dozens of his neighbors. The townhouse complex, located off Sarnia Road just east of Hyde Park Road, consists of 161 attached units built by Rand Developments and branded as “Tribeca.” The modern design features a mix of metal and brick exterior finishes, with streets named after iconic New York locations such as Battery Park and Manhattan Way.
Initially, Huo rented out his townhouse but later moved in himself after his tenant reported water seeping behind the baseboard under the front window of the second-floor bedroom in January 2018. Rand responded and made repairs to the roof, temporarily solving the issue. However, when Huo moved back in after his tenant left in the fall of 2021, he noticed water damage on the new baseboard in the same spot, indicating ongoing water infiltration problems. Further investigation revealed extensive water damage and blackened, crumbling framing members under the front window, highlighting the severity of the issue.
Huo hired Neil Travis of Keystone Properties to investigate the roof and discovered several problems with the construction, including short pieces of metal flashing on the roof parapet, exposed nail heads above the shingles, missing metal drip edges, and inadequate underlayment. Travis described the overall roof installation as “pretty shitty,” indicating subpar workmanship by the builder, Rand Developments.
As Huo continued to deal with water infiltration problems in his townhouse, he reached out to his neighbors in the complex and discovered that over 50 of them reported similar issues. Water seeping through ceilings, water-stained and blistering drywall, and electrical circuit breakers tripping due to water in the walls contacting live outlets were among the common problems experienced by residents. Some owners praised Rand for their efforts to address the issues, while others criticized the company for being unresponsive and difficult to reach.
Arsalan Saleem, a first-time homeowner in the complex, shared his experience of water leaking into his daughter’s bedroom during a thunderstorm, causing significant damage and costing him around $2,000 in repairs. Despite the Ontario Tarion Warranty Program intended to protect new-home buyers from defects, the coverage for major water penetration expires after seven years, leaving many homeowners to deal with costly repairs out of pocket.
CBC News reached out to Tarion for comment on the situation at the Sarnia Road townhouses built by Rand. While Tarion acknowledged the complexity of the issue, they stated that they had received no complaints about the Tribeca complex during the coverage period but were working to assist homeowners and encourage the builder to address the problems. Huo and other homeowners argue that the extensive water damage at the complex warrants an extension of the coverage period to hold the builder accountable for the construction defects that have plagued their homes from the beginning.
