{"id":881,"slug":"obd-search-workflow-buyer-due-diligence","title":"OBD search workflow — search by legal name AND principal name; umbrellas and Phoenix applications hide history under marketing brands","kind":"reference","scope":"business","status":"current","audiences":["kevin","smb-owner","candid-team"],"topics":["gc-vertical","public-registries","regulatory-signals"],"reference_body":"**Claim:** Effective OBD searches need four queries, not one:\n\n1. **Legal entity name** from the Agreement of Purchase and Sale (not the marketing brand).\n2. **Operating/trade name.**\n3. **Licence number** (if on the builder's marketing).\n4. **Principal/director/officer name** — to surface related companies that may carry the real track record.\n\n**Source:** <https://www.hcraontario.ca/blog/2022/03/15/the-obd-step-1-in-choosing-a-new-home-builder/>\n\n**Confidence:** Verified.\n\n**Common pitfalls:**\n- **Umbrella groups** — searching the marketing name may miss the legal entity. Tridel's project pages list separate legal entities (B48141, B61250, B45786, B62950, B45933, B48613, B47771, B47670) under one marketing brand.\n- **Phoenix applications** — principals with revoked licences sometimes re-emerge under new corporate names. Canonical example: HCRA refused **Dynasty Home Builders Inc.** in March 2024, finding it was a \"ploy\" by Albion's principals Zamal Hossain and Farida Haque to operate under their daughter Zamila Hossain's name with an Albion ex-employee as the competency holder. See [[albion-construction-1m-fine-dec-2025-largest-case]].\n- **Marketing brand ≠ licensed entity.** Always confirm the **exact corporate entity** on the APS matches the licence.\n\nBuyer-side rule: see [[rule-buyer-search-obd-before-signing-not-listed-means-unlicensed]].","rationale_body":null,"metadata":null,"links":{"outgoing":[{"slug":"ontario-builder-directory-obd-public-registry","title":"Ontario Builder Directory (obd.hcraontario.ca) — public registry showing licence status, homes built, Tarion claims, charges, convictions, discipline","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"},{"slug":"albion-construction-1m-fine-dec-2025-largest-case","title":"Albion Building Consultant Inc. — $1,018,750 fine December 15, 2025; 124 charges, 39 homes; largest HCRA enforcement case to date","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"}],"incoming":[{"slug":"research-brief-hcra-ontario-may-2026","title":"Research brief: Ontario Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA) — definitive reference (May 2026)","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"rule-buyer-search-obd-before-signing-not-listed-means-unlicensed","title":"RULE: Buyers should search the Ontario Builder Directory before signing any Agreement of Purchase and Sale; not listed = unlicensed = walk away","kind":"rule","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"}]},"created_at":"2026-05-24T13:50:00.828Z","updated_at":"2026-05-24T13:50:00.828Z"}