It’s always wise to execute your due diligence before any property purchase. Identifying any potential problems prior to buying a dwelling can help alleviate the financial, mental or emotional strain you might otherwise experiece with an unexpected issue. After all, your happiness, health and well-being extends far beyond the pretty, to what’s behind your walls, and beyond. And, well, when it comes to shelter there are a lot of factors to consider. Click here to read my Healthy Home series, which explore many of the issues a property owner might face.
Take, for instance, Kitec Plumbing which, if found in your property – and more specifically Toronto condominiums – could unravel and result in a hefty expense for unsuspecting buyers. Kitec was a very popular material for plumbing installations from around 1995 to the late 2010s in Toronto. Originally promoted as a dependable, cost-effective material resistant to corrosion; it was later discovered Kitec Plumbing was defective. In fact, instead of standing up to corrosion, the product design can accelerate the process.
One way to know if you have to be concerned about kitec plumbing in a condo building is to look at the condo corporation number. If the number is between 1200 and 1900, it may contain kitec, as buildings are registered by date of completion.
This is highly probelmatic as a plumbing failure can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage, especially in a high-rise condo. And, as anyone who has ever experienced a plumbing leak can tell you, it doesn’t take a lot of water or a lot of time for serious water damage to occur. What’s even worse about Kitec Plumbing, is that a failure doesn’t tend to be gradual, but the ‘burst pipe variety’ as opposed to a pinhole leak that periodically drips.
Kitec Plumbing was a popular material and, given it coincided with our City’s building boom in the mid 90s and 00’s, it’s highly possible any complex you consider ourchasing in built during that time could be impacted. So ensure you confirm whether its present, or not.
Condominium Corporations which are aware of the presence of Kitec Plumbing should reveal this information in the Status Certificate, but I’ve come across several instances over the past year where this information was not forthcoming. A Seller, and their representatives, are obliged to disclose this to prospective Purchasers, as its considered a “material fact”, i.e. a factor that could influence a Buyer’s decision-making process with a property. Click here to read, “Kitec Plumbing And Material Facts”.
How Can I Spot Kitec Plumbing?
If you’ve got Kitec plumbing, you should be able to see orange and blue pipes (for hot and cold water, respectively). You’ll see pipes stamped with one or more of the following brand names: Kitec, PlumbBetter, IPEX AQUA, WarmRite, Kitec XPA, AmbioComfort, XPA, KERR Controls or Plomberie Améliorée and Kitec or KTC on the fittings.
Look under your bathroom vanities and kitchen sink, where they will be most visible. It’s also a good idea to have a look in your Condo’s mechanical room around the central hot water tank or around the sinks that might be present in common area amenities like a fitness centre change room.
Both Buyers And Seller Should Take Note
Certainly, if you are in the market for a condominium you should have this on your radar, certainly if the building that you are looking at was built between 1995-2010 or so. The incidence that Kitec was used in Toronto during that time period was very high, so the probability that the condo has (or had) Kitec plumbing is feasible. And what I’m finding particularly fascinating is that even though these condominiums are anywhere from 8 to 23 years old, there are numerous instances this year alone where condominium corporations and/or Sellers are only just disclosing the presence of Kitec Plumbing. It’s been very hush hush which I consider problematic given how significant a building component plumbing is.
If you are a Seller, be aware that the existence of Kitec Plumbing will impact your selling process and potentially your price. You should disclose this information to your Buyer to protect yourself from legal action down the road. Also, it’s not a bad idea to get a quote for repairs ahead of time so that you are armed with that information when it comes time to negotiate or even be prepared to remediate the issue as part of your selling contract.
Click here to read “‘It Was Just Very Shocking’: Faulty Pipes Cause Headache For Toronto Condo Owner”.
The Importance Of A Property Inspection
There is always merit in conducting a property inspection. To choose not to complete your due diligence can be a risky roll of the dice, even when you’re considering a condominium that isn’t very old and presents as well-managed and well-maintained. That said, investing in a pre-purchase inspection is exactly the kind of deficiency a reputable inspection firm would discover, arming you with important knowledge in making an informed decision, including negotiating remedying the problem if you’re still commited to move forward with a purchase.
This story in the Toronto Star,”Kitec Plumbing In Condos Should Be Revealed: Bob Aaron” . The Buyer in this story bought a condominium that had Kitec plumbing in it. Although the condominium board and property managers would have most likely been aware of the presence of Kitec plumbing, they didn’t disclose it in the status certificate. Furthermore, this Buyer elected to skip a property inspection, where the Kitec plumbing would have been revealed. The end of the story for this Buyer is that she had to reduce her selling price when she resold the condo as Kitec plumbing was discovered by the new purchasers.
Click here to read “5 Things To Know About Kitec Plumbing” for more information on this. This post “Kitec: What Is Coming Down The Pipe” talks about the varied approaches that Condominium Corporations take to disclosing information around Kitec Plumbing.
Are These Repairs Going To Be Expensive?
Being on the hook for Kitec plumbing reparis can be costly. Click here to read, “Kitec Plumbing In Your Home Will Cost You”.
Repairing Kitec plumbing can run anywhere from a couple thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars depending on the situation. And then there is the potential cost of water damage and damage to your neighbour’s units if you discover that you’ve got Kitec Plumbing after a pipe has burst.
Earlier this year Urbaneer.com sold a stacked townhouse on The Queensway where the Seller disclosed both the presence of Kitec Plumbing and his willingness to replace it at his expense as part of the purchase price. The cost, just over $8000 for a 2bed 2bath upper suite, was completed by a credible plumbing firm. Representing the Buyers, we addressed its replacement in the Agreement of Purchase & Sale that included the following clauses:
“The Seller agrees to engage a licensed master plumber to remove and replace the existing kitec plumbing per the attached quote in advance of the revised completion date and replace the plumbing trap below the kitchen sink at his own expense. All parties acknowledge the Seller may use an alternate licensed plumber to undergo the equivalent work depending on scheduling availability and costs.
Further to the foregoing, the Buyer and Seller agree that the tradespeople or tradesperson contracted to perform this remediation shall be directed to re-route the water lines down the partition wall that separates the hot water closet from the laundry closet and cut and cap the existing lines in the exterior wall or ensure that the thickness of the existing spray foam insulation as well as the continuity of the vapour barrier in the exterior wall are maintained. The parties agree that workmanship and services rendered shall be at the level of accepted industry standards. Incomplete or shoddy workmanship will require re-attendance at the Seller’s own expense.
The Seller will complete these repairs not later than Ten (10) business days prior to the revised completion date of this agreement at his own expense. All parties acknowledge there will be an industry standard warranty transferred to buyer upon completion of work. Following remediation, the Seller agrees to have the Buyers come to the property to view the remediation in advance of fixing/patching the access holes. All parties acknowledge this viewing will not constitute one of the ‘purchaser visits’ referenced in the Agreement of Purchase and Sale. All parties agree any access holes made in the laundry closet and water heater closet will be closed up with flat panel covers on or before the completion date at the Seller’s expense. Any access holes required in exposed drywall wall and ceiling surfaces will be refinished with existing patches of drywall, mudded/sanded and painted on or before completion at the Seller’s own expense. The Buyer acknowledges there may be some slight discolouration in the ceiling due to new white paint being put on an aged ceiling paint.”
If you’re facing this potentiality, check out the entire post in my March 2018 – Home of the Month – The Queensway
Class Action Lawsuit & Property Insurance
There is a class action lawsuit and settlement in effect in North America for homeowners affected by Kitec plumbing. Homeowners have until January 2020 to file a compensation claim. However, by all reports, there are so many claimants that the money a homeowner might receive for repairs isn’t really substantial. Click here to read “Kitec Plumbing Lawsuit Impacts Homes And Condos Built After 1997”.
There is also the issue of property insurance. Criteria will vary from insurance company to insurance company, but typically coverage from damage from a plumbing problem is only covered if the problem is “sudden or accidental”. If you neglect to fix a plumbing problem that you are aware of (i.e. a leaky pipe), your coverage could be denied. Technically, Kitec can fall under this category, but it is a grey area. It’s worth covering your bases and investigating. You could end up having to spend a lot of money.
Click here to read “Kitec Could Stop Your Clients From Getting Homeowners Insurance”.
Do I Need A Permit?
In Toronto, you do require a plumbing permit when you’re addressing the replacement of Kitec Plumbing. In fact, as this issue has increasingly come to light, the City of Toronto has begun encouraging condominium corporations to remediate all the Kitec Plumbing at once so as to streamline the repair and replacement process. One reason is there’s a backlog of permits awaiting to be issued as individual condominium owners submit permits for the replacement of Kitec Plumbing. Think about it, if a 200 suite condo suddenly discloses the presence of Kitec Plumbing, there will be an ongoing process of remediation moving forward that potentially means multiple permits underway at once. Multiply that by dozens of condominiums undergoing Kitec Plumbing replacement and there could be thousands of Plumbing Permits being issued and monitored to completion.
Because of this, the City of Toronto would rather issue one Building Specific permit to ensure all Kitec Plumbing replacement is resolved collectively by one firm doing consistent work, both to streamline the process and ensure all units are addressed using similar materials and execution. To date this has not been the case, which means there may be a lot of condos which have piece meal repairs that could result in future issues. Regardless, if your condominium unit has Kitec Plumbing, ensure you get a permit and document the remediation with photos, in the event come the future you need to demonstrate it’s been property completed to the standards of both the city and your condominium corporation.
Click here for “Homeowner’s Guide to Building Permits”.
What all of this underscores is that caution, research and a pragmatic approach is the best way to go about making a property purchase. Check out these other thought-provoking pieces:
The Importance Of Accurate Homeowner Insurance Coverage
Dear Urbaneer: How Do You Help Buyers Make The Right Real Estate Purchase?
Dear Urbaneer: What Are The Steps To Home Renovation?
Thanks for reading!
As the years roll on, more and more layers are added to the complexity of the Toronto real estate market. Do you or someone you love need assistance buying or selling? We are here to help!
~ Steven
Steven Fudge, Sales Representative
& The Innovative Urbaneer Team
Bosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage – (416) 322-8000
– we’re here to earn your trust, then your business –
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