When talking about strata council members’ roles and responsibilities, there is almost always an emphasis placed on the requirement to enforce the bylaws and rules. Rule enforcement, while not something council members look forward to, is a critical part of maintaining a safe and enjoyable environment for the people who live in the strata. If […]

Besides making monthly mortgage payments, condo owners must pay condo fees as well.  This amount covers maintenance costs for common areas in the condo building and it contributes to a rainy day fund. Sounds fair enough, right? Problem is, there’s no benchmark to how much condo fees should cost. In some places, it’s $50 while others […]

A strata council plays a vital role in governing the strata corporation on behalf of owners. It is responsible for making decisions and fulfilling responsibilities that will benefit the corporation and the community.  Council members are granted certain powers that enable them to perform their duties, but they can’t improvise as they go. Over 1.5 […]

When an owner doesn’t pay their dues, the entire HOA has to deal with the consequences. Fees from owners are factored into an association’s budget, and when owners fall behind on payments, the HOA can’t cover all of its expenses. In very rare cases, homes have had to be foreclosed because owners could not meet […]

Running an HOA is a lot like running a business. Boards must look after finances, take care of maintenance, assist owners, organize meetings, etc. It takes a great deal of work to ensure an HOA runs smoothly, which is why many communities hire help. HOA management companies assist with day-to-day operations. HOA managers handle duties […]

When someone buys a home that belongs to a planned community with covenants, they are generally expected to pay fees and assessments to a homeowners’ association. Though most owners pay these fees without any problems, HOAs can take serious action if an owner refuses to keep up with their financial obligations. Download our notice of […]

Every condo community is required to operate according to its rules and bylaws. Owners, tenants and visitors are all expected to follow them. And while they may feel burdensome at times, rules help promote the safety of owners, and prevent unreasonable interference to the use and enjoyment of the building, common elements, and individual units. […]

Insurance isn’t exactly the most exciting condo issue. While few boards look forward to finding an appropriate policy, it’s always better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. Condo insurance (also known as a master policy) protects the building in the event of an accident or incident. Unit […]

To manage a strata well, you need efficient processes and procedures in place. There are meetings to prepare for, fees to collect and maintenance issues to fix. And who could forget about all of that paperwork! These recurring tasks can easily take up much of your valuable time, especially if you start from scratch each […]

Spontaneity is not often wanted or welcomed when it comes to strata corporation meetings. Agendas help ensure meetings are carried out in an organized, systematic manner. They also enable strata council members to properly prepare for questions or issues that will take precedence during the meeting. When strata owners are sent an official notice of […]

Take note! The Strata Property Act has specific requirements for strata meetings. These requirements help guide strata corporations when they are conducting important business, and ensure they govern themselves democratically. Minutes of strata council meetings are part of this regulated process. Minutes must be taken. Furthermore, they must be available for review two weeks after […]

In 2017, news broke that a group of Toronto condo board members conspired to divert hundreds of thousands of dollars from a building’s operating budget into their own pockets. The group posed as condo owners, forged ballots and managed to take control of a condo board in 2016. Some of these individuals had allegedly infiltrated as many […]

HOAs cannot operate without revenue. It’s as simple as that. Good accounting is critical to the health and happiness of every HOA development. Managing a multi-million dollar budget is not so simple, however, especially if none of your board members have an accounting background. Accounting can be quite stressful for anyone to navigate, and it’s […]

A website is a simple yet effective way to keep your HOA connected and informed. A clean, accessible website allows owners to easily locate HOA news, announcements, resources such as forms or surveys, member directories, and more. It may also serve as an effective marketing tool and can attract buyers to your community. Almost every HOA […]

It’s 2021, and we’re just as excited to move forward with the new year as you are. As turbulent and unpredictable as 2020 was, we did have some happy moments. We were able to help our clients maintain operations, even when they could not physically be in their offices or interact with other people. We […]