Policy
What we do, what goes to a licensed contractor, and what we will not do.
Written down in advance, because an attendant standing in an empty house with a homeowner on the phone will take the job unless the answer already exists.
Why this page exists
Alberta treats plumbing, gasfitting, electrical and refrigeration as compulsory certification trades. Work in those trades may only be performed by a certified journeyperson or a registered apprentice under supervision.
Several tasks that get casually described as handyman work sit on the wrong side of that line — replacing a thermostat with line voltage behind it, changing a tap or shower head, resetting a gas appliance, replacing a light fixture. Every one of them sounds small and none of them are ours to do.
Three categories
Every task falls into one of these
We do this directly
Non-trade work requiring no certification. Performed during a visit or booked as its own block of time, and photographed.
We coordinate it
Regulated trade work, or work with a failure mode severe enough that it belongs with an insured specialist. We source the provider, attend for access, verify completion and record it — we do not perform it and we do not warrant it.
Nobody does this under this brand
Either because it requires credentials this business does not hold, or because doing it badly would hurt somebody.
Worked example
Small home tasks, split down the middle
Attendant
- Replace light bulbs in accessible fixtures
- Replace furnace filters
- Replace refrigerator water filters
- Replace range hood filters
- Replace smoke and CO alarm batteries
- Replace batteries in thermostats, smart locks, keypads and remotes
- Restart a modem or router; reconnect a Wi-Fi device
- Adjust thermostat settings (settings only, no wiring)
- Set timers and programmable switches
- Tighten loose cabinet and door hardware
- Lubricate hinges and tracks
- Install adhesive or screw-in hooks
- Hang pictures
- Assemble small flat-pack furniture
- Move small furniture within the property
- Put patio furniture away or bring it out
- Basic weather stripping and door sweeps
- Simple caulking at non-plumbing locations
- Basic smart-device setup and pairing
- Take approved items to a donation centre
Licensed contractor
Compulsory-certification trade work in Alberta, or work with a failure mode severe enough that it belongs with someone insured for it. A representative can attend to provide access.
- Thermostat replacement involving wiring — electrical
- Anything behind an electrical panel or device faceplate — electrical
- Replacing fixtures, switches or outlets — electrical
- Resetting a tripped breaker on an unknown fault — electrical
- Shower heads, taps, valves and supply lines — plumbing
- Toilet internals, fill valves and shut-off valves — plumbing
- Anything on a water heater, boiler or furnace — plumbing / gas
- Relighting or resetting any gas appliance — gasfitting
- Main water shut-off repair or replacement — plumbing
- Appliance repair and disconnection or reconnection
- Roof, ladder and above-grade exterior work
- Anything requiring a permit
Not offered
The full list
If you ask for any of these, the answer is no — and where there is a right person for the job, we will say who.
- Any plumbing, gasfitting, electrical, HVAC or refrigeration work — these are compulsory-certification trades in Alberta.
- Relighting, resetting or adjusting any gas appliance.
- Roof access, and any ladder work above single-storey eave height.
- Crawlspace, attic or confined-space entry.
- Roof snow or ice removal.
- Structural, environmental or engineering assessment of any kind.
- Home inspections. Those are performed by qualified independent inspectors.
- Mould assessment, testing or remediation.
- Damage assessment, loss scoping, claim preparation or negotiation with any insurer.
- Security patrol, guarding or alarm monitoring.
- Emergency response. Fire, gas odour, medical emergencies and crimes in progress are 911 matters.
- Property management — advertising rentals, tenant showings, screening, lease negotiation, rent collection or deposit handling.
- Real estate advice, opinions on value, or anything requiring a real estate licence.
- Legal, tax, estate administration, engineering or insurance advice.
- Live-animal care.
- Opening, reading or describing the contents of mail.
- Handling, removing, valuing or disposing of contents, except under specific written instruction.
- Moving, altering or disposing of anything on a neighbouring property, or intervening in a dispute between neighbours.
- Transport of hazardous materials, firearms or controlled substances.
- Signing contracts, work orders or completion certificates on a customer's behalf.
- Cash handling on a customer's behalf.
On third-party contractors
Where work is coordinated with a licensed contractor, that contractor is engaged directly by or on behalf of the property owner. VacantHomes.ca does not perform the work, does not supervise it, does not assess its quality, and does not warrant or guarantee it. Attendance at an appointment is physical access and a record of what happened — it is not supervision, inspection, verification or approval.
Property owners should satisfy themselves as to any contractor’s licensing, insurance and suitability.
Not sure which side of the line your job is on?
Describe it and we will tell you — including when the answer is that you need somebody else.