Strata housing is often referred to as condos or condominiums. However, strata housing not only includes apartment-style condominiums but can also include: duplexes, townhouses, fractional vacation properties, even single family homes in bare land strata corporations (“strata subdivisions”). The BC Strata Property Act includes detailed bylaws that apply to all property and operations of every condominium. In addition, each condominium may have its own set of rules. Bylaws and rules spell out your rights and responsibilities and control what the place will be like to live in.

Good starting points include:

• Owning a Condominium, from the Canadian Bar Association BC Branch, provides an overview of what is involved in being a strata title owner, what a strata corporation does, and what laws apply to condominiums.
• Strata Property Act: Frequently Asked Questions, from the provincial government, provides answers to frequently asked questions about strata/condominiums in BC.
• Strata Housing, from the Ministry of Natural Gas Development & Responsible for Housing, provides a series of guides which includes "Understanding Stratas", "Operating a Strata", "Resolving Strata Disputes", and "Renting, Building and Selling Strata".

Do you have a dispute?

• As of July 13, 2016, the Civil Resolution Tribunal, Canada’s first online tribunal, will accept strata property disputes for early intake. In early 2017, it plans to accept small claims disputes as well.

See our related common questions:

• See all common questions about housing, tenancy & neighbours

tags

condos, strata properties, property owner, condominium owner rights, Strata Property Act