Condo Clear Services Inc.

This is an unfortunate situation but ultimately, it is quite simple...what do the bylaws say? Many strata corporations have bylaws that specifically disallow any flags being hung from balconies or common property, this even applies to Canadian flags and there have been many disputes about that in the past. Many also have bylaws allowing owners to display holiday lights during certain portions of the year. In regard to the mat, in most buildings this not allowed as it could be a tripping hazard in the event of an emergency. I have personally seen multiple buildings cited by the fire marshal for this exact thing.

When reviewing strata documents we routinely come across policies that are subject to a 90% co-insurance clause which is typically a good indication that the strata does not have a recent appraisal and may be under-insured. Contrary to what was quoted in this article, this issue is far from uncommon. Update: We surveyed the last 100 strata document reviews we completed and 14 of the policies were subject to a co-insurance clause.

Some news that might help provide some relief for strata corporations.

? Founder Ryan Stenquist says, "Our values are clarity, communication, and support. I want to provide both strata corporations and buyers with the information they need in a clear and concise format so they can feel confident in their decisions." Ryans vision is to provide potential buyers with a resource they can depend on when purchasing a home or investment and give strata corporations a viable alternative to traditional management services.... Want to learn how we can help you? Message us! Or visit our company website: https://condoclear.ca

Great prank....however, I do not recommend doing this is in a condo...

This is a good example of why it is important to have your own insurance policy.

What are your thoughts on this requirement in BC?

I spoke with Tony Joe at The Whole Home Show a couple weeks ago in regard to various issues we come across with stratas on a regular basis which, of course, includes the biggest issue many stratas are facing...insurance!

I used to say this when I was managing stratas all the time. You dont need to know everything, but you do need to a build a solid team that can take on any challenge. Sometimes the biggest strength is recognizing where your limitations are.

Doing a review in a 1977 strata building and the Depreciation Report only shows minimal special levies in the future...great! Or is it? Upon closer inspection the council has omitted over $3,000,000 worth of work from the report, this is misleading if not fraudulent....be careful, things are not always as they seem to be on the surface.

This is nothing new, but it is a good reminder. Just because the strata corporation has the responsibility to insure original fixtures does not mean they are responsible for the repair and maintenance of items within a strata lot. The people in the best position to prevent leaks and insurance claims are the owners themselves.

This case helps to illustrate the challenge involved with a potential purchaser trying to gain approval from the strata corporation prior to them becoming owners. We see this arise with renovation requests, pet requests, and rental requests on a regular basis. It doesnt matter what stage of the buying process you are in, until conveyance has happened the strata has little to no obligation generally speaking. "I also agree there is no relationship between the strata and the ...potential purchaser, and the potential purchaser is not bound by the stratas bylaws. In other words, the bylaws do not apply to potential purchaser." https://decisions.civilresolutionbc.ca//it/482149/index.do

Condo Clear is expanding and we are looking to add to our team! This is an exciting opportunity to get involved with a rapidly growing company that is changing how sales of strata properties are done in B.C. This role will begin as part time and grow with the company. Strata license is a must and a trading license would also be an asset.

Potential changes coming.

Still no rent increases but evictions for some reasons are allowed again.

CRT Decisions states that heat pumps within a strata lot are common property and the responsibility of the strata corporation despite a bylaw to the contrary. This is a decision that could impact many strata corporations and owners as generally speaking these components have been viewed as a responsibility of teh individual owners. https://decisions.civilresolutionbc.ca//it/481408/index.do

Sounds like some relief may be on the way for strata insurance.

Among key report findings, based on a survey of 6,000 strata and townhouse properties, are: an average increase of 40 per cent year-over-year to strata insurance premiums province-wide; a 50 percent increase in Metro Vancouver; 54 percent of strata properties experienced a premium increase of less than 30 per cent compared to premiums the previous year; 31 percent of strata properties saw increases in the 30-50 per cent range;... 9 percent faced year-over-year increases of 50 -100 per cent and 6 percent saw increases in excess of 100 per cent compared to the previous year. See more

Housing Market Activity Shows Signs of Recovery in May

Update: Our email is up and running again. Technical Difficulties!! If anyone has been trying to reach us over the weekend you may have noticed that our email is not working. I am guessing this is due to a recent domain change and should be able to get ti sorted out tomorrow but in the meantime if you need to contact us please call 250-853-7446.... Thanks for your patience!

Two very helpful orders to assist strata corporations in these interesting times: paying insurance premiums from the CRF and extending the deadline to hold an AGM. https://www2.gov.bc.ca//strata/covid-19-and-strata-housing

This is a recent CRT decision related to an owner relying on assurances from a council member that their sons dog could visit even though the dog was not allowed under the bylaws. They are claiming that they were never given a copy of the bylaws to review when purchasing the property which means this $160,000 claim could also end up coming back on their Realtor. This is a situation that I see on a regular basis, despite any promises made by the council members and/or manageme...nt it is the bylaws that have the final say. Contrary to popular belief, council does not have the authority to contravene, or give someone else permission to contravene, the stratas bylaws. https://decisions.civilresolutionbc.ca//it/479729/index.do

BC housing prices and sales expected to drop significantly, says report predicting major housing recession The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporations Housing Market Outlook report says average house prices in Canada could fall between 9% to 18%. BC is expected to fare better than other large provinces in terms of housing stars, but price and number of sales may plunge. https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca//2020-housing-market-outlook-s

https://biv.com//strata-corporations-urged-be-cautious-fac

https://www.thestar.com//luxury-condo-rental-market-feelin

It will be interesting to see how long it takes for these to bounce back.

When can people start using their gyms and pools again?

Yet another example of why a buildings bylaws are so important in these situations. Had the bylaws been different the cost may have been the responsibility of the owner.