What rights do I have under an Ontario renovation contract?

Ontario's Consumer Protection Act requires a written agreement for any contract over $50. A contract signed at your home is a direct agreement, which you can cancel within 10 days without giving a reason or paying a penalty, with deposits refunded within 15 days of your cancellation notice.

A contractor cannot exceed a quoted estimate by more than 10 percent unless you approve the additional or different work in a signed change to the contract, and you can cancel within one year if you never received a compliant copy of the contract. Provincial guidance recommends deposits of 10 percent or less.