HCRA investigation results in convictions, fines
TORONTO, October 19, 2023 – Two unlicensed home builders have been convicted of selling homes without a licence, following an investigation and charges by the Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA).
On September 8, 2023, Akram Syed Mohammed Hossain and Nasrin Jahan pled guilty to charges related to selling a new home without a licence. Hossain was fined a total $15,000. Jahan received a suspended sentence.
The charges stemmed from a complaint about a property in Toronto in 2021. During its investigation, the HCRA became aware of a second property located next door and found that both properties were sold without a licence from the HCRA and were not enrolled with Tarion – contravening provincial law.
“The rules for building and selling new homes are clear,” says Wendy Moir, the HCRA’s Chief Executive Officer and Registrar. “Builders and vendors must be licensed by the HCRA to build and sell new homes, anything short of that is against the law”. The HCRA recommends that new home buyers consult the Ontario Builder Directory to ensure they are purchasing a home from a licensed vendor.
About the HCRA
The Home Construction Regulatory Authority is responsible for regulating and licensing the people and companies who build and sell new homes in Ontario. The HCRA enforces high professional standards for competence and conduct in the homebuilding industry, giving new home buyers confidence in one of the biggest purchases of their lives. The HCRA also maintains consistency across the sector, curtailing unethical and illegal builders and vendors.
In addition to licensing, the HCRA provides educational information for consumers on their home buying journey, and hosts the Ontario Builder Directory – the authoritative source of background information about each of Ontario’s more than 6,500 new home builders and vendors.
Contact: Tess Lin
media@hcraontario.ca