What happens when a party to a real estate transaction fails to close? Posted onAugust 2, 2019September 30, 2020/ Christopher W. Statham The Agreement of Purchase and Sale (APS) has been signed and any conditions waived or fulfilled. All that remains is for the closing itself to take place. What happens when a party to a firm APS fails to close the deal? This may happen, for example, if the buyers find out that they are unable to obtain financing for the property, as was common around the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) two years ago during the market correction. The answer will obviously depend on the particular circumstances, however case law provides us with some generalizations: 1) SELLER FAILS TO CLOSE If the buyer is ready to close, and for whatever reason the seller has a last minute change of mind and refuses to close, the buyer may be entitled to damages and/or specific performance forcing the seller to close. In Semelhago v Paramadevan [1996] 2 SCR 415, the Supreme Court of Canada held that whether or not a buyer is entitled to specific performance depends on how “unique” the property in question is. Courts will take into account both objective and subjective factors when determining whether the test for uniqueness is met (see, for example, Marvost v Stokes, 2011 ONSC 4827, aff’d 2012 ONCA 74). 2) BUYER FAILS TO CLOSE This was a common situation following the market correction in areas around the GTA that resulted from the introduction of Ontario’s Fair Housing Plan (Ontario Ministry of Finance, 20 April 2017). Unless the seller can sell the property for an amount greater or equal to what the buyer had agreed to pay, the seller will be entitled to damages, amounting to the difference between the agreed upon price for the property in the failed APS and the amount that the seller ultimately sold the property for. 3) REALTOR LIABILITY Occasionally we are asked whether a realtor can be held liable for a failed APS, particularly if, for example, a realtor did not advise an inexperienced buyer to make an offer conditional on financing. Case law on this topic is somewhat mixed. There is a line of cases in which buyers were successful in third party claims against realtors who failed to advise the buyers about the risks of not making their offers conditional on financing or another event taking place, such as a satisfactory home inspection (see, for example, Krawchuk v Scherbak, 2011 ONCA 352 and Pitter v Ha, 2005 CarswellOnt 10310 (Sup Ct J), aff’d 2007 CarswellOnt 4271 (Sup Ct J (Div Ct)). On the other hand, there are cases in which courts have determined that the parties to an APS were experienced in trading in real estate and should have been aware of the risks of making an unconditional offer to purchase a property, and therefore third party claims against the realtors did not succeed (see, for example, Shields v Broderick, 1984 CarswellOnt 1251 (H Ct J). 4) RETURN OF DEPOSIT One final item to consider regarding a failed APS is what happens with the buyer’s deposit. A deposit will only be refunded if the buyer and seller agree to execute a mutual release or if one of the parties obtains a court order. If you have further questions about failed real Agreements of Purchase and Sale and your legal rights, please contact Christopher Statham at Christopher.statham@devrylaw.ca or 416.446.5839 “This article is intended to inform. Its content does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon by readers as such. If you require legal assistance, please see a lawyer. Each case is unique and a lawyer with good training and sound judgment can provide you with advice tailored to your specific situation and needs.” Authors Christopher W. Statham 416-446-5839 416-446-5839 christopher.statham@devrylaw.ca Related Posts Posted onSeptember 27, 2019June 25, 2023/ Devry Smith Frank LLP I’m Interested in Purchasing My First Property. What Are Some of The Common Reasons Real Estate Deals Fall Through? The process of buying your first home can be both an exciting and overwhelming experience. Often, it is the largest investment a person will make in their lifetime and a transaction that can come with a lot of legal and financial risk. With that being said, with good communication, meticulousness and compliance with the process, [...] Read more Posted onJuly 9, 2019September 30, 2020/ Devry Smith Frank LLP The House I Recently Purchased Was Used to Manufacture Illegal Substances: What Now? 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