Responsibilities of Strata Owners
When you own a house, it is easy to understand that what you own is the building and the land which surrounds it. Owners of houses also know the property belongs to them, and they can approach their municipality to obtain a copy of the plan that describes the boundaries. House owners know intuitively that when it comes to repairs, they are responsible to repair and maintain their house and their land.
For the owners of strata lots in a strata corporation, it can be more difficult to understand what they own and what they do not own. It can be more complicated to understand who is responsible to repair and maintain, and what an owner’s rights are. Your strata property management company can help owners and the strata council to understand their respective responsibilities.
Guidelines for Strata Lots & Strata Councils
The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas – Office of Housing and Construction Standards has also developed two guides to help owners of strata lots and strata councils:
1. ‘The Role and Responsibility of Strata Lot Owners (Guide 5)’
2. ‘Who is Responsible for Repairs (Guide 20)’
Every strata council is now required by the provincial government to keep depreciation reports. This is a 30 year outline for how the strata will handle repairs, upgrades and ongoing maintenance. As a strata owner, your monthly fees will support a contingency fund for these costs, as well as the monthly maintenance.
Strata owners should be up to speed on what your strata corporation’s depreciation report looks like, to understand how it will impact your fees long-term. The report is an important piece in the guidance of timely repairs to your building, which affects your home as an investment. If your strata council needs help maintaining the property or maintenance planning, consider hiring the services of a strata property manager for peace of mind.
Owner’s Responsibilities:
- Interior Maintenance: Owners are responsible for maintaining their individual unit’s interior. This includes things like plumbing, electrical systems, walls, flooring, and appliances.
- Repairs & Upgrades: Any damage or upgrades inside the unit are the owner’s responsibility unless there is something related to the building’s structural elements.
- Balconies and Courtyards: Owners may also be responsible for maintaining and repairing their balcony or courtyard, though this can depend on the specific rules of the strata.
Strata’s Responsibilities:
- Common Areas: The strata is typically responsible for the maintenance of common areas, like hallways, elevators, stairwells, pools, gardens, and parking areas.
- Structural Maintenance: Any structural components of the building, like the roof, foundation, exterior walls, and windows (if they are part of the building’s structure) fall under the strata’s responsibility.
- Shared Services: Strata usually handles repairs to shared services, such as plumbing systems that affect multiple units, the building’s heating and cooling system, or the electrical systems that service common areas.
Legal and Insurance Aspects:
- Insurance: Strata typically takes care of building insurance, but owners often need to insure their own unit contents and their own liability.
- Bylaws and Agreements: The strata council or management usually establishes bylaws that outline specific duties and responsibilities, so it’s important to check them to clarify responsibilities for maintenance.
