Vaughan resident finally gets her grading deposit after 12 years

So far, it’s unclear how many people have picked up their refundable deposits

Yorkregion.com
May 2, 2019
Dina Al-Shibeeb

Sharon Andrews has waited at least 12 years to finally get her $1,000 worth of refundable grading deposit she gave before moving into her new home in Vaughan.

Builders take the deposit, which is also called a security or damage deposit, to make sure that any newly built neighbourhood is acting in accordance with the city’s regulations.

Ever since moving to Vellore Village Area in 2007, a “new development” at the time, “We’ve been waiting for the grading deposit.”

“I have been checking periodically, going to the City Hall,” she said of her due diligence. Despite that Andrews was told that the developer would send the “money automatically.”

On top of that, when Andrews finally picked her deposit in March at the City, she learned that the deposits were ready for pick up since April last year.

“So I called, and for sure, it has been assumed, and they request that we send something in writing to request our refunding,” said Andrews, whose builder at the time was Vogue Group. “So I am not sure how many people even know this, how many people have forgotten about this, people have moved away or died God forbid.”

She wants everyone at the Vellore Village they can now claim for their grading deposit. She even plans is to “knock on doors ... to put the word out there.”

York Region Media sent a query on April 15 to the City of Vaughan on how many people have picked up their grading deposits. The City said, "Grading deposits are typically a condition of the Purchase and Sale Agreement between the builder and purchaser. The City is not party to the agreement and therefore we do not return deposits or require the builder to return them."

According to Vaughan’s 2011 figures, it shows that the Vellore area has an estimated population of 35,700. It also said that Vellore is one of Vaughan's youngest communities. It is estimated that approximately 64 per cent of Vellore's residents are under the age of 39.