When Is the Best Time to Do a Building Condition Assessment or Warranty Review in BC?

19 minutes ago
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Timing Can Make or Break Your Report’s Value

As strata councils and property managers in British Columbia head into 2026, one thing is clear: doing the right engineering report at the right time can mean the difference between savings and costly surprises.

Whether it’s a Building Condition Assessment (BCA) for financing or insurance, or a Warranty Review (WR) before a coverage deadline, understanding the best timing is essential.

In this article, we’ll cover:

Key timing windows for BCAs and WRs
What events or deadlines should trigger your reports
Examples of smart vs. poor timing
How to combine reports strategically
What ENGIPRO can do to help you plan ahead

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1. What Is a Building Condition Assessment (BCA)?

A Building Condition Assessment (BCA) is a professional engineering inspection of your building’s structural, mechanical, electrical, envelope, and life safety systems. It’s often required by:

Lenders during refinancing or purchase
Insurance providers for renewals
Strata councils for major project planning
Buyers or prospective investors

While there’s no legal schedule for BCAs, timing it right increases the report’s relevance and usefulness for decision-making.

2. What Is a Warranty Review (WR)?

A Warranty Review (WR) focuses on buildings under the 2-5-10 year new home warranty mandated by the BC Homeowner Protection Act. It’s a strategic inspection to detect and report defects while they’re still covered.

2-year warranty: materials & labour
5-year warranty: building envelope
10-year warranty: structural defects

Failing to review a building in time means you lose your legal right to file claims.

3. Best Time to Do a Building Condition Assessment

While you can technically do a BCA any time, some moments are much better than others.

Ideal Timing Triggers:

Situation	Why You Should Do a BCA
Refinancing	Banks often require BCAs no older than 1 year
Loan Application	Lenders want fresh, engineer-signed assessments
Pre-listing / Sale	Helps justify price, avoid delays
Insurance Renewal	Insurers want evidence of building health
Major Repairs Planning	Know what needs to be done — and how soon
Before Budget Season	Build maintenance & capex into annual plan

4. Best Time to Do a Warranty Review

The golden rule for Warranty Reviews is:

Don’t wait until it’s too late.Most WRs are triggered by the warranty calendar, and you must inspect in time to submit claims before expiry.

Timing by Warranty Phase:

Warranty Type	What It Covers	Review Timing
2-Year	Materials and workmanship	At 18–22 months
5-Year	Building envelope	At 48–54 months
10-Year	Structural	At 96–108 months

Why This Matters:

WRs submitted even a day late may be rejected
Repairs after warranty expiry are fully paid by the strata
Defect signs (e.g., water ingress) often appear months before expiry — early detection is key

Example:

A Burnaby condo completed in Jan 2022 is approaching its 5-year envelope deadline in Jan 2027.

→ Ideal time to schedule a WR: Aug–Oct 2026

5. Real-World Consequences of Bad Timing

❌ Case 1: Too Late for Warranty Claim

A strata skipped its 5-year WR thinking no issues existed. A year later, water staining revealed major flashing failures — but the warranty had expired.

→ Cost: $180,000 special levy

❌ Case 2: Expired BCA Causes Loan Rejection

A strata applied for roof financing using a 2.5-year-old BCA. The lender declined it, citing “outdated documentation.”

→ Delay: 3 months + lost interest rate lock

6. Can You Combine BCA and WR?

Yes — and in many cases, you should.

For newer buildings (<10 years), combining WR and BCA:
- Saves cost on mobilization
- Ensures coordination across structural/envelope systems
- Helps you file claims while also planning for long-term repairs
For older buildings, you might combine:
- BCA + DR (Depreciation Report)
- BCA + EPR (Electrical Planning Report)

ENGIPRO offers bundled packages tailored to timing constraints and lender requirements. Contact us here for more info.

7. Common Strata Questions About Timing

Q: What if we missed the warranty deadline?

A: You may still file if issues were documented earlier or in rare “hidden defect” cases — but success is limited. That’s why pre-expiry inspection is critical.

Q: How far in advance should we book?

A: Ideally 3–6 weeks before your target date. Some engineering firms are booked out months in advance — especially in peak summer/fall seasons.

Q: Will a WR include everything in a BCA?

A: No. A WR is focused on new-home defects, not long-term asset planning. For budgeting or financing, you’ll need a BCA or DR.

How ENGIPRO Helps Stratas Stay Ahead

At ENGIPRO, we help strata corporations plan proactively, not reactively. Our engineers can:

Recommend the right inspection window for your strata
Prepare bank- and warranty-compliant reports
Deliver fast turnarounds (under 30 days if needed)
Coordinate multiple reports in one site visit
Ensure compliance with BC Housing, CMHC, and insurer guidelines

The Sooner You Plan, the More You Save

Don’t wait for a lender to reject your report, or for warranty coverage to expire. By timing your Building Condition Assessment and Warranty Review smartly, you protect your budget, your reserve fund, and your owners’ peace of mind. Contact ENGIPRO for tailored advice and reporting solutions.