Blog

Almost every question that lands at a property management office: “can I have a dog?”, “can I rent my unit?”, “who pays to fix this window?”, is already answered in your condo’s governing documents. The trouble is there are several of them, and they sit in a hierarchy. At the top is the declaration, the foundational document registered on title: it defines the boundaries of your unit, identifies common property, and sets out how common expenses are shared. Next come the bylaws, which govern how the corporation runs itself — elections, meetings, voting, fee collection, owner conduct. At the bottom sit the rules, which a board can typically pass on its own for day-to-day operations like amenity hours, moving procedures and parking.

Knowing which document governs a question tells you how firm the answer is and who can change it. A rule about booking the party room can be revised by the board. A bylaw usually requires a vote of the owners. A provision in the declaration may be effectively fixed for the life of the building. It’s worth an hour to read your own documents, you received a copy when you purchased, and your property manager can point you to them. Pay particular attention to maintenance and repair obligations, since the line between what the corporation fixes and what you fix is the most common surprise for owners.

If you have any questions, you’re property manager is still more than happy to answer any questions that you may have.