Found out my 'finished' basement was never insulated at all

I was tearing down some old paneling in my place near Whyte Ave last month and found nothing behind it but dirt and cobwebs. No insulation, no vapor barrier, just bare concrete from 1959. The kicker is the guy I bought the house from had it listed as 'fully renovated basement' and charged me 20k extra for it. I checked the city records and there was never a permit pulled for that work. Has anyone else dealt with sellers hiding garbage work like this?

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2 Comments

ivan2115mo ago

Small claims for 20k is a longshot unless you have proof he knew about the missing insulation.

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ninas705mo ago

Did you check if the previous owner had any other complaints filed against them? I read something in the Edmonton Real Estate Board newsletter a couple months back about how many houses around here have unpermitted work in the basements. It's a big problem because if you ever try to sell, the city can make you rip it all out and start over. That 20k extra you paid sounds like a total scam, you should probably talk to a lawyer about small claims court. At the very least, get a home inspector to look at the rest of the house so you know what else might be hidden.

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