# What a trade shows us before they get the address

Updated 2026-10-03.

The first question a manager, an owner or a board asks is who is walking into the unit. This is what that trade has shown us before they get the address.

## Before the first booking

- **A WSIB clearance.** Where WSIB coverage applies to their work, a current clearance on the day of the job, checked before booking and before every payment.
- **Liability insurance.** A certificate naming Roundhouse as an additional insured, with its expiry date, and no trade applies without one.
- **The licence the work needs.** Checked with the body that issues it, from the table below.
- **A person you can reach.** The business name, the owner, and a phone that reaches whoever does the work.

## Licences by trade

| Work | What the trade shows |
|---|---|
| Electrical | ECRA/ESA Licensed Electrical Contractor licence, checked in ESA's public locator, and a 309A or 309C Certificate of Qualification, or a registered apprentice working under one, for each electrician |
| Gas furnaces, boilers and appliances | TSSA contractor registration and a certified gas technician |
| Plumbing | A Certificate of Qualification as a Plumber (306A), or a registered apprentice working under one, everywhere in Ontario; plus the City's Plumbing Contractor licence in Toronto, and the local licence where another city requires one |
| Drains | City of Toronto Drain Contractor licence in Toronto, and the local licence where another city requires one |
| Pest control | Ontario exterminator licence for each technician, and an operator licence for the business |
| Roofing | Working at heights training for each worker on the roof, current within three years |
| A/C, heat pumps and refrigerant | A 313A or 313D certificate and the ODP card |
| General repairs | No trade licence required. Repairs that cross into plumbing, electrical or gas work go to the trade certified for it. |
| Painting, cleaning, appliances, grounds | No trade licence required; insurance still applies, and a WSIB clearance where WSIB coverage applies to the work |

We only use ECRA/ESA-Licensed Electrical Contractors.

## Checked again, not once

A WSIB clearance lasts up to 90 days, so we check it before booking and before every payment and keep the record for three years, as WSIB requires. Insurance and licence expiry dates are tracked the same way. When one lapses, new bookings stop until the renewal is on file.

## On the job

The trade enters on the written notice given for the job, with the resident's consent at the door, or in an emergency. The job closes only with before and after photos, the work description and an invoice that matches the approved scope. The trade never takes payment from the resident.

## What removes a trade

- **A lapsed document.** A clearance, licence or insurance certificate that runs out and is not replaced.
- **Entry without a right to enter.** Going into a unit without written notice, consent or an emergency.
- **Side deals.** Taking payment from a resident, or selling the resident or the owner other work.
- **Work outside the scope.** Doing unapproved work, or sending another business without our written approval.

## Questions

### Do you check a trade once or on every job?

Both. Documents are checked before the first booking. WSIB clearance is checked before booking and before every payment, and insurance and licence expiry dates are tracked so a lapse stops new bookings.

### What happens when a trade's WSIB clearance runs out?

No new jobs are booked and payment waits until a current clearance is on file. Without one, the party that hired the trade can be liable for the trade's unpaid WSIB amounts, up to the labour portion of the contract.

### Can a trade send someone else to do the job?

Only with Roundhouse's written approval, and the other business has to pass the same checks first.

### Can I see the licence of the trade on my job?

Yes. Licence details for the trades on your work are sent on request. Any electrician can also be looked up in ESA's public contractor locator.

### Who answers for the work if a trade gets it wrong?

Roundhouse. We are your vendor and the warranty is ours. Work that is incomplete or not right gets a return visit within 3 calendar days at no charge.

## Sources

- [WSIB Operational Policy Manual 14-02-19, clearance certificate in construction](https://www.wsib.ca/en/operational-policy-manual/clearance-certificate-construction)
- [WSIB, clearances](https://www.wsib.ca/en/businesses/premiums-and-payment/clearances)
- [ESA, hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor](https://esasafe.com/homeowners/hire-a-licensed-electrical-contractor/)
- [TSSA, contractor registration and certification](https://www.tssa.org/contractor-registration-and-certification)
- [Ontario, guide to pesticide licensing](https://www.ontario.ca/page/guide-pesticide-licensing)
- [City of Toronto, plumbing contractor licence](https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/permits-licences-bylaws/plumbing-heating/plumbing-contractor/)
- [City of Toronto, drain contractor licence](https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/permits-licences-bylaws/drain-contractor-drain-layer/drain-contractor/)
- [Ontario, training for working at heights](https://www.ontario.ca/page/training-working-heights)
- [Ontario, get a certificate to handle refrigerants](https://www.ontario.ca/page/certificate-handle-refrigerants)
- [O. Reg. 876/21 under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021, section 2, compulsory trades](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r21876)
- [Skilled Trades Ontario, trades information](https://www.skilledtradesontario.ca/about-trades/trades-information/)
- [Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, sections 26 and 27](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/06r17)