Where strata fees go, how contingency reserves are supposed to work, and what to do when the budget or a special levy doesn't add up.
Strata money is the subject owners ask about most and get explained least. Fees arrive as a single monthly number with no indication of what sits behind it, the contingency reserve fund is discussed once a year in a room where half the owners are checking their phones, and then a special levy lands and everyone wants to know how it got to that point.
The honest answer is usually that it got there slowly. A building that has underfunded its reserve for fifteen years is not facing an emergency, it is facing an arithmetic problem it postponed. The articles here work through both halves of that: the operating budget that pays for this year's landscaping, utilities and management, and the contingency reserve fund that is supposed to pay for the roof in 2041. They are governed by different rules, funded by different logic, and confusing them is how councils end up surprised.
You will also find the practical mechanics — how depreciation reports feed reserve planning and what they cost, what a strata can do about owners who stop paying, when a strata loan makes more sense than a levy, and why townhouse complexes so often pay less per month than towers. Where a number matters, we have given the number.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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'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
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