Strata Fees

Strata fees are regular payments that strata lot owners make to the strata corporation to fund shared expenses such as maintenance of common property, insurance, utilities, and contributions to the contingency reserve fund, as governed by the Strata Property Act, SBC 1998, c. 43. They are typically collected monthly and are based on each unit's unit entitlement or another formula approved by the owners. Verify current details with a BC lawyer, notary, or licensed tax professional before acting.

Strata fees in British Columbia are governed by the Strata Property Act, SBC 1998, c. 43, and the Strata Property Regulation. These laws set out the framework for how strata corporations must budget, levy, and collect strata fees from owners. Verify current details with a BC lawyer, notary, or licensed tax professional before acting.

Under the Strata Property Act, SBC 1998, c. 43, strata fees typically cover expenses such as maintenance and repair of common property and common assets, strata insurance, utilities for common areas, property management, and mandatory contributions to the contingency reserve fund. The specific expenses depend on the strata corporation's approved budget. Verify current details with a BC lawyer, notary, or licensed tax professional before acting.

Yes. Under the Strata Property Act, SBC 1998, c. 43, every strata corporation in British Columbia must establish and maintain a contingency reserve fund to pay for common expenses that usually occur less often than once a year or that do not usually occur. A portion of strata fees must be contributed to this fund as part of the annual budget. Verify current details with a BC lawyer, notary, or licensed tax professional before acting.

Under the Strata Property Act, SBC 1998, c. 43, strata fees are typically allocated to each strata lot based on its unit entitlement as shown on the strata plan, unless the bylaws or a resolution approved by a three-quarters vote specify a different allocation formula. The unit entitlement reflects the proportion of total contributions and voting power for each lot. Verify current details with a BC lawyer, notary, or licensed tax professional before acting.

Yes. Under the Strata Property Act, SBC 1998, c. 43, a strata corporation may increase strata fees by approving a new annual budget at an annual general meeting or special general meeting by majority vote. If the strata corporation has previously adopted rules or bylaws regarding budget increases, those must be followed. Verify current details with a BC lawyer, notary, or licensed tax professional before acting.

Under the Strata Property Act, SBC 1998, c. 43, if an owner does not pay strata fees, the amount becomes a debt to the strata corporation and a lien may be registered against the strata lot's title. The strata corporation may charge interest and pursue legal remedies, including filing a certificate of lien at the Land Title Office and potentially forcing a sale. Verify current details with a BC lawyer, notary, or licensed tax professional before acting.

For owner-occupied principal residences, strata fees are generally not tax-deductible under the federal Income Tax Act. For rental properties, a portion of strata fees that relates to maintenance and repairs of common property may be deductible as a rental expense; verify specifics with a licensed tax professional. This is a federal tax matter outside BC provincial legislation. Verify current details with a licensed tax professional before acting.

Yes. Under the Real Estate Services Act (RESA), SBC 2004, c. 42, and standard contract terms, buyers purchasing a strata property typically receive or can request a Form B Information Certificate from the strata corporation, which discloses current strata fees, special levies, the state of the contingency reserve fund, and other financial and legal information. Buyers should review this document carefully. Verify current details with a BC lawyer, notary, or licensed tax professional before acting.

Yes. Under the Strata Property Act, SBC 1998, c. 43, a strata corporation may levy a special assessment (also called a special levy) on owners to cover expenses not included in the annual budget, such as major repairs or improvements, typically by a three-quarters vote at a general meeting. Special assessments are separate from regular monthly strata fees. Verify current details with a BC lawyer, notary, or licensed tax professional before acting.