Strata rules in BC can feel like a maze. These guides break down the questions we hear most — in language that actually helps you make a decision.
88 guides
Stratas of five or more lots in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and the Capital Regional District need an electrical planning report by December 31, 2026 — and most councils have not started.
11 min read
Unit entitlement is the number that sets your monthly strata fee and the weight of your vote — and almost nobody is told what theirs is or where it came from.
6 min read
The strata plan is the document that decides who pays for what. Here's how to find it, what the hatching and the LCP labels mean, and how to read a boundary.
6 min read
Two years of council minutes is where a building tells the truth about itself. Here's how to read them quickly and what should stop you.
7 min read
The seller's side of a strata sale is mostly paperwork on a clock. What you have to provide, who orders it, and where completions actually get held up.
6 min read
A pipe fails on the fourth floor and water reaches the first. Here is what happens next, in order, and where the money comes from at each step.
7 min read
It's a line item most owners have never read, and in a building with a $250,000 deductible it's the difference between an inconvenience and a five-figure bill.
6 min read
Strata fees fund your building's shared operating costs plus a mandatory reserve for big repairs. Here's exactly what they cover in BC, what they don't, and how your share is calculated.
7 min read
When you rent out your strata unit in BC, you—the owner—stay legally responsible for the strata fees. Here's how landlords handle it, the Form K paperwork, and how the fees are taxed.
7 min read
In 2026 most Metro Vancouver owners pay about $0.35–$0.65 per square foot a month. Here are real ranges by unit size and building type, plus a quick test for whether your fee is high or low.
6 min read
BC law only sets a minimum yearly contribution, not a target balance. Here's how much a healthy contingency reserve fund really holds, plus a step-by-step way to estimate your own number.
7 min read
BC stratas with 5+ lots now must hold a current depreciation report — by July 1, 2026 in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and the CRD. Here's the full rundown.
7 min read
A special levy is a one-time charge on top of strata fees, approved by a 3/4 owner vote, for a big expense. Here's how it works in BC — plus a resolution template.
7 min read
Depreciation reports in BC typically run about $2,500–$6,000 for small buildings and more for larger ones. Here's what drives the price and how to get good value.
6 min read
No hardship exemption exists, but BC owners facing a special levy have real options: payment plans, financing, or pushing the strata to borrow. Plus a request template.
7 min read
BC strata insurance covers the building, common property, and original fixtures at full replacement value — but not your contents, upgrades, or a charged-back deductible.
7 min read
Water-damage deductibles now run $25k–$250k across BC stratas. Here's what's normal in 2026, who pays, and how much loss-assessment coverage owners need.
7 min read
A plain-English guide to what a BC strata council does: who serves, the president and treasurer roles, the legal duties under the Strata Property Act, and its limits.
7 min read
Rental bans, most age limits and tenant screening: some BC strata bylaws simply don't hold up. Here's which rules are unenforceable, and why, under current law.
6 min read
How BC strata councils can enforce bylaws and impose fines the right way: the strict Section 135 process, current fine limits, and a copy-paste notice template.
7 min read
Changing a strata bylaw in BC takes a 3/4 vote plus a Form I filing at the Land Title Office within 60 days. Here's the full process, with a resolution template.
6 min read
Stuck with a secretive or bullying strata council? BC's Strata Property Act gives owners real tools — records, hearings, an SGM, council removal, and the CRT.
7 min read
A council code of conduct isn't required by BC law, but it's one of the best governance tools a strata has. Here's what to include, plus a free copy-paste template.
7 min read
As a BC strata owner you have real, enforceable rights — to vote, to records, to a hearing, to rent out your unit, and to fair treatment. Here's the plain-English list.
7 min read
A BC strata can't evict an owner from a unit they own — but as a last resort it can force the sale of the lot to collect unpaid fees. Here's how that works.
6 min read
A practical guide to running a compliant BC strata AGM: the two-month deadline, two-week notice, quorum rules, the budget vote, proxies, and a ready-to-use countdown.
9 min read
Since Bill 44, BC stratas can't ban or cap long-term rentals. Here's how to legally rent out your strata lot: your duties to the strata, the RTA, and the Airbnb exception.
7 min read
Yes — BC stratas can still ban or restrict short-term rentals after Bill 44. Here's how the province and your bylaws stack up, plus a sample bylaw and enforcement steps.
6 min read
BC property managers typically charge 8–12% of monthly rent plus a tenant-placement fee of half to a full month. Here are real 2026 ranges and the add-ons to watch for.
6 min read
You can't evict a tenant in BC without a valid reason. Here are the legal grounds — unpaid rent, cause, landlord's use, sale, and renovation — with 2026 notice periods.
7 min read
Unhappy with your strata manager? How to terminate the contract in BC under Section 39 — the 3/4 vote, notice period, and handover — with free templates.
7 min read
What does strata management actually cost in BC? Real 2026 per-unit ranges, why small buildings pay more per door, and the extra fees to watch for.
7 min read
A Form B is the strata disclosure document every BC buyer relies on. Here's what it must contain, what it costs, and the red flags to watch for.
6 min read
Form B and Form F sound alike but do different jobs. One discloses the strata's finances; the other is required to register the sale. Here's which you need.
6 min read
In a bare land strata you own the land parcel and the house on it, while the strata maintains shared roads, utilities and amenities. Here's how it works in BC.
7 min read
A strata is BC's version of a condo: you own your home and share the common areas with every other owner. Here's how stratas work, in plain English.
7 min read
Why did BC strata premiums explode? The reinsurance squeeze, water-damage claims, flood risk in areas like Richmond, and what the market looks like in 2026.
6 min read
Can't get owners to your strata AGM? Here's how small BC stratas hit quorum — smarter notice, proxies, electronic voting, and an agenda that gives owners a reason to show up.
6 min read
After years of hard-market hikes, BC councils aren't powerless. Here's how a small strata can de-risk, shop, and rethink deductibles to cut its premium.
6 min read
Your strata's policy insures the building, not your contents or the deductible. Here's the gap condo owner insurance in BC fills, and whether council can require it.
6 min read
How strata earthquake insurance works in BC: why the deductible is a percentage of building value, and what a large earthquake deductible could mean for owners.
7 min read
When one owner stops paying strata fees, the rest of a small BC building covers the gap. Here's how councils collect — reminders, interest, liens, and the CRT.
6 min read
The owner-to-renter mix in a BC strata quietly shapes financing, resale, and management — here's how the strata rental ratio works, and why Bill 44 changed it.
6 min read
A special levy isn't the only way to fund a big repair. Here's how a special levy, higher strata fees, and a strata loan compare for BC buildings — and how to qualify to borrow.
7 min read
Large tower or boutique strata? Compare the risk, cost, and control trade-offs of investing in a strata condo in BC before you make an offer.
7 min read
Townhouse strata fees in BC are usually lower than condo fees — because there's less to share. Here's how amenities, building type, and entitlement set the gap.
7 min read
Going over your operating budget isn't always a crisis. Here's what BC's rules allow, your options when the fund runs short, and why the budget vote matters most.
6 min read
Yes, your BC strata can run video AGMs and vote electronically. Here are the rules, the trade-offs, and why a ballots-only meeting still is not allowed.
7 min read
New-construction strata fees start with the developer's optimistic first-year budget. Here's why they often jump after handover — and how to check before you buy.
6 min read
Your BC strata is a corporation — so does it owe income tax or file a return? A plain-English look at non-profit status, reserve interest, and the T2 vs T1044.
6 min read
A due-diligence checklist for buying a strata property in BC: the documents to pull, the numbers to read, and the red flags that should slow you down.
6 min read
Your depreciation report says the reserve is short. Here's a calm BC recovery playbook for small strata councils, plus the hidden costs of ignoring it.
6 min read
BC strata law protects election signs on your own lot during a campaign, even when a bylaw bans signs. Here's what a strata can and can't restrict, and how fines really work.
6 min read
Council won't act? BC owners can force a special general meeting. Here's the requisition process step by step — plus whether the notice period can be waived.
6 min read
Legal since 2018 — but your strata still has real power over cannabis. How far a BC strata can restrict smoking and growing, and who gets grandfathered.
6 min read
In a small BC building, can your council really close the pool or gym? When a strata can shut or restrict shared amenities, and what owners can do about it.
6 min read
How big should your strata council be, and how often should it meet? A practitioner's guide to right-sizing council and setting a healthy cadence in BC.
7 min read
Snow and ice on common property is the strata's problem until someone slips. Here's who must clear it, who's liable, and how a small BC building plans ahead.
6 min read
Struggling to fill council seats? Practical ways for small and aging BC stratas to recruit, keep, and hand off council volunteers without losing knowledge.
7 min read
A strata council hearing in BC lets owners and tenants be heard before a fine or decision sticks. Here's how to request one and what the strata must do.
7 min read
EV charger requests are landing in BC strata inboxes now. A plain-English guide to planning electrical capacity, approvals, and fair cost-sharing for small buildings.
7 min read
Common property and limited common property aren't the same thing in a BC strata — and the difference decides who pays for balconies, parking, and repairs.
6 min read
Noise, threats, harassment, parking wars: not every strata conflict is council's job. Here's how to tell a bylaw matter from a CRT case, or a police matter.
7 min read
Strata council minutes are the legal record of every decision your council makes. What BC law requires you to include, what to leave out, and access rights.
7 min read
Those white crusty deposits on your parkade concrete are a symptom, not the disease. Here's what efflorescence tells your BC strata council about water — and why to act early.
6 min read
Can you remove a strata council member mid-term in BC? Usually yes — by a majority owner vote at a general meeting. Here's the process, grounds, and votes needed.
7 min read
Bylaws and rules aren't the same thing in a BC strata. Here's how each is created, which one can govern what happens inside your unit, and how to enforce both.
6 min read
The lowest strata management quote in BC is rarely the cheapest once the year is over. Here's what bargain quotes leave out — and how to compare three fairly.
6 min read
Price is the easiest thing to compare and the worst way to decide. Here's how a BC council should evaluate strata managers on service, communication, and fit.
6 min read
In a sectioned BC strata, groups of owners fund and govern their own areas while sharing the rest. Here's how sections split fees — and whether they cost more.
6 min read
Winding up a strata in BC lets owners sell the whole building, often for redevelopment. Here's when it makes sense, the 80% vote, and the court-approval steps.
6 min read
Your strata manager is an agent, not a boss. Here's what they do, what they don't, why they aren't on-site daily, and who's really in charge of your building.
6 min read
Why many firms avoid small stratas, the real challenges of running a 4-to-20-unit building in BC, and the boutique management options that actually fit.
6 min read
For self-managed BC stratas that only want help with the money side: how financial-only strata management works, what it covers, and when it's the right fit.
6 min read
Did Bill 44 kill the strata rental hardship exemption? Here's what the exemption was, how the old hearing process worked, and what BC owners can do today.
6 min read
Losing a reliable tenant means vacancy, turnover costs, and risk. Here's how BC landlords keep good tenants long-term and reduce tenant turnover for good.
7 min read
BC caps how much and how often you can raise the rent. Here's the annual allowable increase, the notice rules, and legal ways to improve cash flow within rent control.
6 min read
The red flags and common complaints that tell a BC strata council their current manager isn't working - and how to know it's time to switch firms.
7 min read
A practical guide for BC landlords on what to look for in a rental property manager, the questions to ask, and how to compare fees and services fairly.
6 min read
The line between what your strata must repair and what falls on you as an owner is often blurry. A plain-English guide to who's responsible in BC stratas.
7 min read
Most BC strata council members volunteer, but honorariums and expense reimbursement are possible in limited ways. Here's what the Strata Property Act and your bylaws generally allow, plus the trade-offs to weigh.
5 min read
One bad tenant can cost a small building months of lost rent and thousands in repairs. Here's how to screen applicants in BC legally — and spot trouble before you sign.
6 min read
The condition inspection report is the one document that decides most BC deposit disputes. Here's what to inspect and record at move-in and move-out.
6 min read
Water damage is the costliest claim most BC stratas face. Here's how the deductible works, when it can be charged back to an owner, and why loss-assessment coverage on your own policy matters.
6 min read
BC's depreciation-report and reserve-fund rules are tightening. Here's what your contingency reserve fund does, why the legal minimum isn't enough, and how council can plan ahead.
6 min read
Thinking of listing your BC strata unit on Airbnb? What the provincial short-term rental rules ask of owners — principal residence, registration, and bylaws.
7 min read
A practical way for BC strata councils to judge strata management value: separating price from value, spotting transparency, and reading reviews right.
7 min read
Self-managed strata in BC or hire a manager? An honest look at the pros, cons, hidden risks, and when self-management still makes sense for small buildings.
7 min read
Ask us directly — or browse the guide library for the right form, bylaw, or answer.