BREAKING: BoC Holds Interest Rate For Second Time In A Row

Drainage System

Learn about drainage systems in Canadian real estate, what they include, why they’re important, and how they prevent costly water damage.

Drainage System

May 30, 2025


What are Drainage Systems?

A drainage system refers to the infrastructure and design features that remove excess water from a property to prevent flooding, water damage, and structural deterioration.

Why Do Drainage Systems Matter in Real Estate?

In Canadian real estate, proper drainage is essential for protecting a property’s foundation, basement, and surrounding land from water infiltration.



Drainage systems may include:
  • Eavestroughs and downspouts
  • French drains and weeping tiles
  • Grading and swales
  • Sump pumps and catch basins



Inadequate drainage can lead to basement flooding, mold, and expensive repairs. Many home inspections assess drainage effectiveness, especially in older homes or high-precipitation regions.



Understanding drainage systems helps homeowners maintain their property and identify potential red flags when buying real estate.

Example of Drainage Systems in Action

A home’s grading slopes away from the foundation and includes downspouts that extend two metres, forming part of an effective drainage system.

Key Takeaways

  • Prevents water damage and erosion.
  • Includes gutters, grading, and sump systems.
  • Essential for foundation integrity.
  • Evaluated during inspections.
  • Impacts home insurance and resale value.

Related Terms

Additional Terms

Public Realm Improvements

Public realm improvements are enhancements to public spaces such as sidewalks, parks, plazas, and streetscapes, often funded or contributed by. more

Mortgagee in Possession

A mortgagee in possession is a lender who takes control of a property after borrower default, but before foreclosure or power of sale. The lender. more

Lease Surrender Agreement

A lease surrender agreement is a negotiated contract between a landlord and tenant that ends a lease before its scheduled expiration. Terms may. more

Green Infrastructure

Green infrastructure refers to natural or engineered systems that manage stormwater, reduce heat, and improve sustainability in developments.. more

Escrow Holdback

An escrow holdback is a portion of funds withheld at closing and held in escrow until specific conditions are met, such as completion of repairs,. more

Underused Housing Tax

The Underused Housing Tax (UHT) is a federal annual 1% tax on the value of vacant or underused residential property owned by non-resident,. more

More For You

Hudson's Bay Left Behind 15 Million Sq. Ft Of Space. What Happens To It Now?

Hudson's Bay Left Behind 15 Million Sq. Ft Of Space. What Happens To It Now?

The closed Hudson’s Bay store in the Metrpolis at Metrotown shopping centre in Burnaby, BC. (Howard Chai)

We’re closing in on almost a year since the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) filed for creditor protection. Liquidating the company’s assets and closing all of its stores was the easy part — and has mostly been completed already. The hard part is determining what to do with the huge blocks of vacant space left in the company’s wake.

Across Canada, HBC operated a total of 96 stores, including not just the traditional Hudson’s Bay stores, but also a handful of stores under the Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks OFF 5TH brands.

Keep ReadingShow less

10 Major Metro Vancouver Developments Set To Complete In 2026

10 Major Metro Vancouver Developments Set To Complete In 2026

A rendering of Phase One of Sen̓áḵw, set to complete this year. (OPTrust, Nch’ḵay̓)

This is a very significant moment in time for the real estate industry. New construction has slowed to a crawl due to a confluence of factors, including economic conditions, elevated construction costs, tariffs, and buyer sentiment.

It's typical for developers to have projects at various stages, however, at present, many development projects are still lingering under construction — namely, the last wave that reached the construction phase before the market downturn.

Keep ReadingShow less

Confident In Office, Europro JV Buys 7.8-Acre Yonge Corporate Centre From Cadillac Fairview

Confident In Office, Europro JV Buys 7.8-Acre Yonge Corporate Centre From Cadillac Fairview

The Yonge Corporate Centre at 4100–4150 Yonge Street in Toronto. (Europro)

After first listing the Yonge Corporate Centre three years ago, pulling the listing, then re-listing the property this time last year, Toronto-based Cadillac Fairview has finally completed a sale of the sprawling office property.

In late January, Toronto-based commercial property management company Europro announced that they had partnered with Arista, Fieldgate Commercial, and Paradise Commercial to acquire the Yonge Corporate Centre, but did not disclose details about the transaction or ownership split.

Keep ReadingShow less

Preparing Your Home For Sale: The Complete Guide

Preparing Your Home For Sale: The Complete Guide

Unsplash

This article was written and submitted by Cameron Levitt, a Toronto-based real estate agent with RE/MAX Hallmark who writes about housing dynamics, market trends, and offers practical advice for buyers and sellers.

You wouldn't show up to a first date in dirty clothes, or walk into a job interview with your CV scribbled on a napkin. So why would you sell your biggest asset without the same level of care?

Keep ReadingShow less

Bank Of Canada Holds Interest Rate Steady In First 2026 Announcement

Bank Of Canada Holds Interest Rate Steady In First 2026 Announcement

Bank of Canada/X

On Wednesday, the Bank of Canada held its policy rate at 2.25%, following a series of cuts in 2025 that brought the benchmark overnight rate to its current level.

Leading up to the announcement, many major Canadian banks — including RBC, TD, and CIBC — came into 2026 expecting the Bank to maintain a steady policy stance.

Keep ReadingShow less
BREAKING: BoC Holds Interest Rate For Second Time In A Row

Soft Curves, Strong Vision: Don't Miss This Trinity Bellwoods Home

Soft Curves, Strong Vision: Don't Miss This Trinity Bellwoods Home

44 Foxley Street (realtor.ca)

In a city that’s no stranger to architectural ambition, 44 Foxley Street still manages to stand apart.

Tucked into the Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood, the residence is a sculptural rethink of what contemporary urban living can look like.

Keep ReadingShow less

Vacancy Rises As Rent Growth Cools Across Canada: Report

Vacancy Rises As Rent Growth Cools Across Canada: Report

Rémi Carreiro/Unsplash

After several years of tight conditions, Canada’s purpose-built rental market is beginning to show signs of normalization.

That’s the picture painted by Yardi’s latest Canadian National Multifamily Report, which recaps Q4 2025 and shows a market that remains broadly resilient — but increasingly balanced — as new supply comes online, vacancy rises, and rent growth cools across major metros.

Keep ReadingShow less

Year-Ahead Outlook: Industry Insiders On What To Expect In 2026

Year-Ahead Outlook: Industry Insiders On What To Expect In 2026

Shivendu Shukla

If 2025 was about waiting things out, 2026 is about finding out what still works.

Experts across development, construction, investment, and beyond say the real estate industry appears to be moving from pause to pressure-testing.

Keep ReadingShow less
Privacy PolicyAbout UsTerms of UseAdvertise with UsJobsContact UsRSS Feed
2025 © STOREYS Publishing Inc. | All Rights Reserved