Short-term rentals can be a very contentious issue within condo communities. Some owners are thrilled about the idea of renting out their units for a weekend to make a little extra cash, while others hate the idea of having strangers constantly coming in and out of their building.It is true that guests usually don’t have […]

Much like condo corporations, some strata corporations elect to hire a property manager for their community. Property managers are generally responsible for managing a community’s daily operations and carrying out policies established by the strata council. They work hard to ensure the development runs smoothly, and that lines of communication between council members and owners […]

Exciting news! We’ve partnered with Rotessa to simplify online payments for condos and HOAs. Through this partnership, we offer residential communities more convenience, and reduce costs for corporations. This new partnership allows residents to make payments from their chequing or savings account while maintaining their current credit option. What is Rotessa?  Rotessa is an online payment processing […]

The Strata Property Act, along with a strata’s bylaws and rules, provides the legal framework under which all strata corporations must operate in British Columbia. Even though stratas are self-governed, strata owners and residents must use the legislative framework to inform their actions and rules.   Defining a strata The term “strata” is generally used as a synonym for a […]

When trying to decide if an architectural change request should be approved, an HOA will generally look to the association’s architectural standards to help them make a fair and subjective decision. Every HOA board has a fiduciary duty to do what’s best for the entire association, not just one member, which is why a request to paint […]

Our sixth release for 2020 brings some very exciting changes. We are introducing a brand new Violation Tracking feature, we’ve added an Architectural Change request and have given property managers more control over resident requests, we’ve integrated with QuickBooks, we have expanded our payment options to include debit and contactless payments, and we’ve added our […]

Noise issues tend to be more technical than other types of nuisances, which is why they may require a more tactful approach.

Before they start any exterior home improvements, homeowners usually need to get approval for their project from the association. Improvements and modifications are not arbitrarily approved or denied, rather, they are regulated by the association’s architectural standards or guidelines. Someone has to administer the HOA’s architectural guidelines and manage the application/approval process, which is where the […]

Condo corporations are considered not-for-profit organizations. This means they don’t have extra money lying around to pay for things like significant improvements or repairs. They must work with the revenues that they generate from condo fees.Planning for the future is part of good condo management. Some portion of the fees collected from condo owners must […]

Associations may use fines to curb unwanted, destructive, or dangerous behaviour from continuing within the development. Some associations use them often, while others try to avoid issuing fines. There are pros and cons to using and issuing fines, but monetary penalties won’t be all that effective if they do not align with the offence that […]

Condos and HOAs across North America are having to make some tough decisions about whether they should open shared facilities. After the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak, multi-residential communities were strongly encouraged to shut down all nonessential amenities, including gyms and pools.Now that stay-at-home orders are being lifted and restrictions are being loosened, some associations do have the […]

Summer is fast approaching, but there’s a big cloud of uncertainly looming over outdoor pools, barbeque areas and other common areas. Due to COVID-19, many condos and HOAs are wondering if they will be able to reopen their most popular amenities.   As a safety precaution, every residential community was strongly encouraged to close all […]

Slowly, but surely, things are changing for the better. COVID-19 has had an immense impact on the entire world. In a matter of weeks, we’ve had to cancel major plans, adapt to new ways of working, and find alternative methods to stay in touch with the people we care for while social distancing.     It […]

When a homeowner breaks a bylaw or rule, the association needs to address the issue promptly and professionally. Enforcing the rules can be challenging. If you are a board member or property manager, you may have to deliver some bad news (and possibly fine) to one of your residents, and you must do it in […]

Who would have imagined that May of 2020 would look like this? COVID-19 has forced the entire world to change their behavior to stop the spread. Stay-at-home orders have been issued in virtually every state and province, and people are being asked to keep their distance from anyone who they don’t share a home with. […]