ECA

Financing and Contract Terms - Consumer Protection pillar

Also known as: Equipment Control Agreement

Equipment Control Agreement. A common Ontario rental-contract clause that grants the rental company control over the equipment, often invoked to block third-party servicing.

An Equipment Control Agreement (ECA) is a clause buried in many Ontario HVAC rental contracts that grants the rental company exclusive servicing rights and prevents the homeowner from using independent contractors for repairs or maintenance. Combined with a NOSI (now expired) or PPSA registration, the ECA was historically used to make rental contracts very difficult to exit at home sale. Under Bill 200 the ECA's enforceability is reduced because the NOSI no longer attaches to title, but the contract terms themselves remain binding on the original signatory.

See the full Ontario HVAC and home energy glossary or browse the Consumer Protection pillar.