KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Ask for a current WorkSafeBC clearance letter and certificate of insurance.
- Check the dates and the named insured.
- Keep product and colour records at close-out.
Paperwork is the easiest part of hiring a contractor and the part most often skipped. Get it before the crew arrives, while there is still time to fix any problems.
Before you sign
- WorkSafeBC clearance letter: confirms the employer’s account is in good standing. It is easy to check, and has a date on it.
- Certificate of insurance: check the amount, the expiry date, and ask if your strata should be named.
- Written contract and scope: surfaces, products, price, exclusions and how extras are approved.
- Business licences: as required by your municipality.
On site
- Safety plan, including fall protection where needed.
- Site contact, with a phone number.
- Notice to residents and schedule.
At close-out
Ask for product data sheets, colour names and formulas, and the final deficiency list signed off. Whoever is on council in ten years will thank you for it.
This guide is general information for strata councils and property managers in British Columbia, not legal advice. Check your registered bylaws and the current Strata Property Act, or ask your property manager or a lawyer, before relying on it for a decision.
