This section contains information on common questions or concerns you may have about your home. If you don’t find the information you’re looking for, the Canadian Forces Housing Agency encourages you to contact your Housing Services Centre (HSC). You should also contact your HSC before you make modifications to your home or grounds.
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Asphalt and concrete surfaces can be badly damaged or stained by automobile fuel and lubricants. This can result in expensive repairs or at the very least an unsightly appearance. You will need to remove stains or spills from your driveway and garage floor as soon as they occur, or you may be charged for the repairs.
Modifications to increase safety and accessibility may be required in support of either Canadian Armed Forces members or their dependants. Such alterations must be coordinated with us. Occupants are not to make alterations to their allocated unit. A written request to the HSC Manager with supportive documentation outlining the specific requirements to support the family member in question will be required. All modifications to the house will remain in the unit upon move-out.
Basements are built to be the foundation of the house. The weeping tiles and sanitary sewer systems may be old and, as a result, basements may be subject to flooding, especially after heavy rainfall and spring runoff. We strongly recommend that you place your belongings on pallets and/or shelves to prevent possible water damage. Please do not store anything nearer than 75 centimetres (30 inches) around the furnace and hot water heater.
You will need to get our written approval before you begin any excavation work on your property. Please contact your local service providers (hydro, gas, cable, telephone, water and sewer) to make sure there are no underground services where you are planning to dig. While the work is ongoing, the excavation area cannot be left unprotected as it would create a safety hazard.
If you have a garage and wish to use it for anything other than storing your vehicle, please note that garages do not have the same level of weatherproofing as your house. There is a greater risk of incurring water damage to your possessions caused by leaks or condensation. If you choose to use the garage in this way, you do so at your own risk.
You will need to keep your lawn cut, watered and well-tended. You will also need to take care of any shrubs or flower beds planted on the property. Water restrictions are a fact of life in many municipalities. You are expected to follow restrictions when these are in force locally.
If you have been assigned locker storage space, you need to keep it tidy and free of fire hazards. Storage areas cannot be used as workshops or as places for children to play.
It is our job to maintain your house and lot to a standard that prevents health, safety or security issues for its occupants. It is your responsibility to avoid damage to your house and grounds. Please inform your HSC immediately of any damage incurred or maintenance issues. Early notification will help us keep the house in good condition while you live there. We also ask that you please notify us of any defects or deterioration to your house and property. All routine maintenance requests are recorded and, in some cases, our staff member will need to inspect the residence to assess the repairs required.
Please do not put foreign or hazardous materials into the drainage system. If you have a blockage and drains will not clear using a plunger, please call us as soon as you can to report the problem. If a foreign object is the reason for the blockage, you will be charged for the cost of repairs.
An emergency is defined as an occurrence which, if not treated immediately, could endanger a human life, could cause further damage to property or create undue hardship to you or your family, such as – but not limited to:
Heating or electrical repairs must usually be carried out by qualified tradespeople, and you will need to call us to initiate a service request. To find out whether or not the problem is one that you can fix yourself, follow these steps before calling for help:
You will be responsible for cost of all unnecessary emergency calls (e.g. dead batteries in thermostat, gas valve in OFF position, furnace emergency switch in OFF position, exhaust for high efficiency furnace obstructed by snow, etc.)
We maintain the furnace in your home and replace its filter(s) once a year. You are expected to regularly replace your furnace filter(s) between annual maintenance visits. A clean furnace filter maximizes your furnace’s efficiency and longevity, and reduces your energy bill. Most furnaces require filters to be changed on a monthly basis. We remind you that you are to use replacement filters that are of the same size as the filter supplied for your furnace during our planned annual furnace maintenance visits.
Tips on how to minimize heating costs:
If your furnace has a humidifier, the interior components (tray, disk and/or filter) may be wiped clean using a damp cloth. Where humidifiers are installed, this will normally be done once a year by our contractors as part of the annual furnace maintenance visit.
When you first move in, we will make sure that all light bulbs and fluorescent tubes for the light fixtures in your house are functioning. When one of them needs replacing, it is your responsibility to do so. Please make sure they all work when you move out of your house.
You cannot build or install any homemade recreational equipment, such as tire swings and forts, which involve the use of a tree. Other than swimming pools and hot tubs, there are no prohibitions or restrictions on the use of other recreational equipment such as children’s swings and trampolines. You are of course responsible for the safe operation and repair of the equipment placed on your property.
The idea behind the self-help program is to offer to occupants the opportunity to make minor repairs and improve the state of their house. We therefore encourage you to carry out simple maintenance and repair work. Contact us to get the details about the program.
You are responsible for cleaning the interior and exterior of all the windows and doors where cleaning is possible through the design of the house. You are also responsible for the upkeep and repair of the screens.
For everyone’s safety, please make sure your vehicle and those of your family members are not parked in a way that would block fire-fighting and snow removal equipment. You cannot use your driveway or any part of your property, to store non-roadworthy vehicles, or bulky items. Also, it is prohibited to park or drive a vehicle on the grass.
You will need to consult and adhere to the local municipal by-laws and the base standing orders regarding pets. In accordance with the above, we will limit the kind and number of domestic pets you are allowed to have in your house, or ban them completely.
If you own a pet, you must follow these regulations:
To prevent damage to lawns and landscaping, the installation of skating rinks is not permitted. Many sites have rinks available in their community.
Be responsible and remove snow and ice from steps, walkways, pathways and driveways on your lot. If you are sharing a driveway, you are responsible for removing the snow from your portion of the driveway, as well as the entrance and central part of the area.
Recreational vehicles, like trailers and boats, cannot be stored on the residential property. It is permitted to park a recreational vehicle near your residence for a short period of time – to load/unload – but please inform us of these cases well in advance. Please contact us for advice on where you may store your vehicle for an extended period of time. Consult Base or Wing standing orders for more details.
The use of pesticides for cosmetic lawn care is prohibited. This includes using pesticides to treat lawns for grubs. If you are looking for lawn care alternatives to pesticides, additional information is available from many sources, such as Health Canada’s Healthy Lawn website.
We recommend you keep your garbage in covered metal or rigid plastic containers. To keep scavenging animals at bay, plastic bags alone should not be used for household waste. Please take note of the collection schedule and avoid putting garbage containers out prior to 5 p.m. the day before the scheduled collection.
Where a recycling program exists, you are encouraged to recycle. You will be required to leave any recycling containers provided to you when you move out.
Where composters are available, they will need to be placed in a suitable location, preferably hidden from view. They are to be kept clean, secure, and to be emptied fully prior to move-out.
You may not be able to use a water bed because of variations in the design and structure of DND houses. Please contact us to find out if your house can accommodate a water bed.
We do not provide you with window coverings. You are responsible for any installation, maintenance and removal of roller/Venetian blinds and curtain/drapery tracks in your house.