Quebec condo owners: Here are some changes to divided co-ownerships coming this month

Construction workers are seen working on the site of a new condo development in Montreal, Monday, Feb. 19, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi

Some changes are coming to how divided co-ownerships are managed in Quebec, including in condominium buildings.

The changes take effect on Aug. 14.

The new regulations call for maintenance logs and contingency funds to ensure “more transparent and responsible management,” according to the Société d’habitation du Québec.

Property associations will have three years and one day to make the changes, according to Noovo Info.

The goal of the maintenance log is to “record all work done and to be done on the building to ensure rigorous monitoring of its condition,” according to the Quebec housing group.

The maintenance log must include:

• A detailed inventory of the building’s common areas (including materials, appliances and equipment), as well as private areas the association is responsible for;
• A description of major repairs and replacements to be carried out over the next 25 years (with a completion date for each);
• An assessment of the condition and estimated remaining shelf life of materials, appliances and equipment listed in the inventory;
• A list of major repairs and replacements carried out, along with their completion date and cost;
• Documents relating to the work (plans, specifications, contracts, etc.)

Who can fill out the maintenance log?

Only a member of the Quebec Order of Engineers, Order of Chartered Appraisers, Order of Architects or Order of Professional Technologists may create the maintenance log.

This person must not have any direct connection with the condominium or its occupants.

For example, they cannot be a member of the board of directors, manager of the co-ownership, co-owner or occupant of the building, spouse of a co-owner or occupant of the building, or a shareholder, officer, director or employee of a company that is a co-owner of the building, or who occupies or manages it.

The maintenance log needs to be updated at least once a year by the condominium board of directors and then reviewed every five years by a professional.

Review of the contingency fund

A study of the condominium’s contingency fund must also be carried out to “ensure that the condominium has the necessary funds to finance major repairs and replacements to be made in the common areas,” the housing society explained.

The study needs to be based on data in the maintenance log and updated every five years.

“It allows you to estimate how much money needs to be set aside each year to avoid unpleasant surprises when major repairs and replacements to common areas need to be made,” according to the Société d’habitation du Québec.

This will allow the association and the building’s co-owners to determine condo fees.

The contingency fund study can also only be carried out by one of the professional groups listed above, or a member of the Quebec Order of Chartered Professional Accountants.

They can’t have any connection with the condominium or its occupants.

Click here for a summary of all the new regulations.