Purchasing a real estate property involves doing environmental due diligence. It is a necessary step for the complete assessment of the property, its potential, and the possibilities of risks. Not doing environmental due diligence can have serious repercussions not just to your financial investments but also to legal implications.
Financial Implications
Not doing environmental due diligence in Vancouver can lead to financial liabilities. Imagine putting up a property on contaminated land and then later rectifying the problem when the structure is already there. This can lead to higher costs when it comes to cleanup.
You might need to spend more money on remediation and that can set you back by millions of dollars if a structure is already there. In addition to that, the value of a property significantly declines when it is found to contain hazardous substances, which can pose a risk to the health of the people using it.
Legal Implications
Skipping environmental due diligence in Vancouver also puts the owners at risk of lawsuits. Hazardous substances can cause injuries and illnesses. Local governments impose strict laws when it comes to environmental regulations and failing to comply with these regulations can lead to violations and sanctions.
You could also be at risk of being sued in case the contamination is found later. You can be held liable for the contamination even if it has already been there.
Reputation Damage
Any news of environmental issues can hurt your business. There is also an increasing clamoring for businesses to employ environmentally ethical operations. The discovery of exploitation of the environment could harm your reputation, which can lead to loss of trust and eventually, loss of business.
Disruption to Your Operations
You will inevitably have to halt your operations in order to resolve environmental issues. If it has been discovered that there is contamination in the property, remediation is needed, which can take time. This means your business will be interrupted and this can lead to loss of revenues.
Long-Term Health Risks
Constant exposure to environmental hazards will harm health. These health risks can even become long-term issues. As long as workers are unsuspectingly exposed to hazards like chemicals and fumes, they are at risk.
Doing environmental due diligence in Vancouver is now easier. When purchasing a property, it’s important to learn more about it. Research about its history and how it was used in the past. You would want to learn more about the industries near the property to understand if there are chemicals and other hazardous materials that could have leaked onto your property.
Get the help of companies like Next Environmental that can perform due diligence. If hazards are found, they can also do remediation to deal with the existing environmental issues.
Shane Aston is the author of this article. To know more about Stage 1 Environmental Report Vancouver please visit our website: nextenvironmental.com