A common misconception is that a discharged construction lien can be revived if additional services or materials are supplied to the subject property. This is not the case. Once the door closes on your lien rights, it will never re-open.

Understanding the crucial difference between Owners and Home Buyers as defined under the Construction Act helps Subcontractors keep track of and keep alive their lien rights.

While the legislature has not commented on the effect of COVID-19 on construction limitation periods, the Courts have tried to provide some direction as to how they would treat the lack of strict compliance with the otherwise truncated limitation periods in the Act.

While the Construction Act grants significant protections to members of the construction industry, these rights must be exercised in a timely and diligent manner. The effects of failing to comply with limitation periods are devastating, such as the expiry of a lien.