Since 2016, OREA has been fighting to stop Home Energy Rating & Disclosure (HER&D). If implemented, HER&D would require a home seller to conduct an energy audit before listing their home. The program also forced REALTORS® to post the energy score on the MLS® listing.
The OREA Government Relations team lobbied Cabinet Ministers and senior staff at Queen’s Park; commissioned research from the Conference Board of Canada which showed the program was a big waste of tax dollars and fought against an assortment of environmental groups who were all pushing the government to move forward on HER&D. Locally, RAHB representatives met with MPPs at Queen’s Park to speak against HER&D.
Last week, OREA received a letter from the government that said, “The province has decided not to proceed with the implementation of a HER&D program at this time.”
While this is a great win for REALTORS® and homeowners, it is also a wake-up call: governments at all levels are struggling to address issues relating to climate change and the housing sector is being asked to play a part in that work.