UFFI stands for UREA – Formaldehyde Foam Insulation.
In a recent transaction, I had buyers looking to purchase a home that had UFFI many years ago but it had been removed. For many agents and buyers, this used to be a cause for concern. If you are selling a home, you must disclose this information. Clause 23 of the Standard OREA (Ontario Real Estate Association) Offer form states the following.
23. UFFI: Seller represents and warrants to Buyer that during the time Seller has owned the property, Seller has not caused any building on the property to be insulated with insulation containing ureaformaldehyde, and that to the best of Seller’s knowledge no building on the property contains or has ever contained insulation that contains urea-formaldehyde. This warranty shall survive and not merge on the completion of this transaction, and if the building is part of a multiple unit building, this warranty shall only apply to that part of the building which is the subject of this transaction.
There has been a lot of research done on this subject and in fact it is no longer an issue. In an article posted by the CMHC (Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation), it clearly states that “UFFI should not be cause for concern”. But since clause 23 as shown above and if UFFI is or was present in a property for sale, disclosures must be made.
And if you are still concerned, then I would suggest performing an air quality test to confirm the safety of the house. Then take a deep breath and enjoy your new home.
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