{"id":945,"slug":"renomark-not-a-warranty-not-a-regulator","title":"RenoMark is NOT a warranty provider, NOT an insurance scheme, NOT an arbitration tribunal — the 2-year warranty is a contractor obligation only","kind":"reference","scope":"business","status":"current","audiences":["kevin","claude-code","smb-owner","candid-team"],"topics":["trust-signals","regulatory-signals","renomark","home-renovation-vertical"],"reference_body":"**Claim:** RenoMark is **mediation, not arbitration.** It cannot order a refund, cannot force completion of work, and cannot pay out on the contractor's 2-year workmanship warranty if the contractor refuses or goes out of business.\n\nThe **2-year warranty is a contractual obligation between the renovator and the homeowner** — enforceable like any other contract, but **not backstopped by CHBA**.\n\n**Source:** renomark.ca, chba.ca (program scope description); confirmed by absence of any backstop or pay-out language on either site.\n\n**Confidence:** Verified.\n\n## Why this matters for Candid copy\n\nSee [[rule-renomark-do-not-overclaim-as-warranty-or-regulator]]. Do **not** call RenoMark:\n\n- a \"warranty program\"\n- a \"certification\"\n- a \"license\"\n- a \"regulator\"\n- a \"guarantee\"\n\nUse the language CHBA itself uses: **\"Renovators' Mark of Excellence\"**, **\"recognition program\"**, **\"Code of Conduct.\"** This isn't pedantic — overclaiming is a misrepresentation risk under Ontario's *Consumer Protection Act, 2002*, and it can be cited against a renovator client in a dispute.\n\n## What does NOT displace consumer rights\n\nRenoMark is purely voluntary. It does **not** displace any homeowner right under Ontario's *Consumer Protection Act, 2002* — including:\n\n- The **10-day cooling-off period** on direct-sale renovation contracts over $50.\n- The **10% estimate-overrun rule**.\n- The right to file a complaint with **Consumer Protection Ontario** at the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery.\n\n**HCRA licensing** applies to new home builders/vendors; **renovators are not licensed by HCRA**. RenoMark sits in that unlicensed space.\n\n**Sources:** ontario.ca; hcraontario.ca.\n**Confidence:** Verified.","rationale_body":null,"metadata":null,"links":{"outgoing":[{"slug":"tarion-vs-renomark-warranty-gap","title":"The Tarion gap: Tarion warranty covers new homes by HCRA-licensed builders, NOT most renovations — RenoMark's 2-year workmanship warranty is the only standardized warranty most Ontario renovation clients will see","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"renomark-enforcement-no-public-data-absence","title":"RenoMark enforcement: no public dispute-resolution procedure document, no public disciplinary statistics, no public list of de-listed contractors","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"}],"incoming":[{"slug":"research-brief-renomark-credentialing-program","title":"Research brief: RenoMark — the CHBA renovation contractor recognition program, with marketing implications for Ontario renovators (May 24, 2026)","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"renomark-code-of-conduct-10-points-verbatim","title":"RenoMark Code of Conduct — 10 points, verbatim (current as of 2026-05-24)","kind":"reference","scope":"business","link_type":"relates-to"},{"slug":"rule-renomark-do-not-overclaim-as-warranty-or-regulator","title":"Rule: never describe RenoMark as a \"warranty program\", \"certification\", \"license\", \"regulator\", or \"guarantee\" — use CHBA's own framing (\"recognition program\", \"Code of Conduct\", \"Renovators' Mark of Excellence\")","kind":"rule","scope":"business","link_type":"depends-on"}]},"created_at":"2026-05-24T15:35:46.017Z","updated_at":"2026-05-24T15:35:46.017Z"}