How do I check if my house has a lien on it?

You check for liens by searching the provincial land title or land registry for your property. In most provinces, you can do this online through the provincial land registry website (Teranet in Ontario, BC Land Title Office, Alberta Land Titles, etc.) for a small fee ($10–$20). A title search shows all registered charges on your property, including mortgages, liens, judgments, and caveats. A real estate lawyer can also run a full title search on your behalf.

What is a lien on a house in Canada?

A lien is a legal claim registered against your property that gives a creditor the right to be paid from the proceeds if the property is sold or refinanced. Common liens include: the mortgage (the most common lien), construction liens (from contractors who were not paid), judgment liens (from court judgments), CRA tax liens, and condo corporation liens for unpaid fees. You cannot sell or refinance the property without clearing the lien first.

Can CRA put a lien on my house?

Yes. If you owe the CRA unpaid taxes, they can register a charge against your real property under the Income Tax Act or the Excise Tax Act. This lien is registered with the provincial land registry and is effective against any subsequent purchaser or mortgagee. CRA does not need a court order to register a lien — they can do it administratively. The lien must be paid or discharged before you can sell or refinance.

What is a construction lien and how do I know if a contractor filed one?

A construction lien (called a builder's lien in some provinces) gives contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers the right to register a claim against your property if they were not paid for work or materials. To check for construction liens, search the land registry for your property — any registered liens will appear. In Ontario, construction liens must be registered within 60 days after the work was completed. They expire if not perfected within a set period (usually 90–150 days after registration).

Does a lien affect my credit score?

A lien registered against your property does not automatically appear on your Equifax or TransUnion credit report. However, some creditors who file a lien (like CRA or a judgment creditor) may also have reported the underlying debt to the credit bureaus. Additionally, a lien will be discovered in any property title search, which affects your ability to sell or refinance. Mortgage lenders and buyers' lawyers always run a title search before closing.

How do I remove a lien from my property?

To remove a lien, you must either: (1) pay the underlying debt and obtain a discharge from the creditor (who then files a discharge of lien at the land registry), (2) dispute the lien in court if it is invalid or improperly registered, or (3) post a lien bond (in some provinces) which allows the lien to be removed from title while the dispute is resolved. A real estate lawyer handles the discharge filing. CRA lien discharges require CRA to issue a clearance certificate.

What title insurance and how does it protect against liens?

Title insurance (from providers like FCT or Stewart Title) covers you against certain title defects, including undiscovered liens that existed before you purchased the property. It does not cover liens that arise after closing (e.g., from work you commissioned). If an undisclosed lien surfaces after you buy a home with title insurance, your insurer handles the claim. Lenders require title insurance in Canada; getting an owner's policy is strongly recommended for additional protection.

How Do I Know If There Is a Lien on My House in Canada?

A property lien can surface at the worst possible time — when you are trying to sell or refinance. Checking your title proactively takes less than an hour and can save significant stress.

What can be registered as a lien on your property?

Type of lien	Who registers it	Why
Mortgage	Your lender	Secures the home loan — almost every property has this
Construction / builder’s lien	Contractor or subcontractor	Unpaid work or materials
Judgment lien	Any judgment creditor (via court order)	Unsatisfied court judgment
CRA tax lien	Canada Revenue Agency	Unpaid income tax, GST/HST, or payroll taxes
Condo corporation lien	Condo corporation	Unpaid condo fees or special assessments
Homeowners association lien	HOA (less common in Canada)	Unpaid HOA fees
Spousal support lien	Family law judgment	Unpaid support orders
Municipal lien	Municipality	Unpaid property taxes or local improvement charges

How to search for liens by province

Ontario

Use Teranet (teranet.ca) to search the land registry online. A parcel register search costs approximately $12–$16 and shows all registered instruments including mortgages, charges, liens, and notices.

Alternatively, visit your local Land Registry Office in person or use a law firm’s title search service.

British Columbia

Use the BC Land Title and Survey Authority (ltsa.ca). A title search through their myLTSA portal costs approximately $10. It shows all charges, liens, and encumbrances registered against your parcel.

Alberta

Search through Alberta Registries (servicealberta.ca). Title searches are available online and show all registered interests, including encumbrances and caveats.

Quebec

In Quebec, the Land Register (registrefoncier.gouv.qc.ca) shows all hypothecs (the Quebec equivalent of a mortgage or lien) registered against a property. Searches are available online for a fee.

Other provinces

Each province has its own registry. Search the provincial government website for “land titles” or “property registry” for your province.

What to look for in a title search

When you receive the results of a title search, you will see a list of registered instruments. Common entries and what they mean:

Instrument type	What it is
Charge/Mortgage	Your existing mortgage(s) — expected
Discharge of charge	Paid-off mortgage that was removed — normal
Construction lien	Filed by a contractor — requires follow-up
Writ of seizure and sale	Court judgment registered against you — requires action
Notice of lien (CRA)	Federal tax debt registered — requires resolution
Certificate of pending litigation (CPL)	Someone is suing with a claim against the property
Caveat	Someone claims an interest — investigate the nature
Power of sale	Lender has initiated foreclosure process

What to do if you find an unexpected lien

Step 1: Identify the creditor

The registration document will name the creditor (CRA, contractor, individual, etc.) and the amount, if specified.

Step 2: Verify if it is valid

Some liens are invalid because they were improperly registered or the debt was already paid. Hire a real estate lawyer to review the registration.

Step 3: Dispute invalid liens

If the lien is invalid (e.g., the contractor was paid but never filed a discharge), you can:

Ask the creditor to file a discharge of lien
Apply to court for a discharge if the creditor refuses

Step 4: Pay valid liens

If the lien represents a legitimate debt:

Negotiate a settlement amount with the creditor
Obtain a signed release or discharge from the creditor after payment
Have your lawyer file the discharge at the land registry

CRA liens specifically

CRA registers liens under two acts:

Income Tax Act — for personal or corporate income tax debt
Excise Tax Act — for GST/HST debt

CRA does not need a court order. The lien is registered directly at the provincial land registry. To remove a CRA lien, you must:

Pay the full balance owing (including interest and penalties)
Contact CRA Collections at 1-888-863-8661 to request a certificate of discharge
CRA issues a clearance certificate within 30 days of payment
Your lawyer files the discharge at the land registry

If you cannot pay in full, call CRA to set up a payment arrangement — CRA will sometimes defer enforcement action (but the lien stays registered until paid in full).

How to prevent future liens

Risk	Prevention
Contractor liens	Hold back 10% of contract value until the lien period expires (mandatory holdback in most provinces)
CRA liens	File all tax returns on time; use CRA My Account to check for any balance owing
Judgment liens	Respond to all legal proceedings; settle disputes before they become court judgments
Municipal tax liens	Set up pre-authorized property tax payments so payments are never missed