Question 1

How do I check if a condo building has complaints or disputes before buying in Canada?

Accepted Answer

BuyersTrust aggregates tribunal decisions from the BC Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) and Ontario Condominium Authority Tribunal (CAT/ONCAT) — over 3,500 decisions covering 1,983 buildings. Search any condo address and we show the building's dispute history: number of cases, issue categories (council conduct, bylaw enforcement, repair boundary disputes, document access, noise, water damage), and damages awarded. Buildings with repeated tribunal appearances in the same issue category are a pattern worth investigating before making an offer.

Question 2

What is an envelope era building and why does it matter for condo buyers?

Accepted Answer

Buildings constructed between roughly 1982 and 1998 in coastal BC are known as "envelope era" or "leaky condo" buildings. During this period, construction practices — including face-sealed walls without rain screens — led to widespread moisture intrusion and building envelope failures. Many have been remediated, but buyers should verify: has a full envelope remediation been completed? Is there an up-to-date depreciation report? Are there ongoing water damage tribunal cases? BuyersTrust flags envelope era buildings automatically and cross-references their tribunal history.

Question 3

What should I look for in strata meeting minutes before buying a condo?

Accepted Answer

Key red flags in strata minutes: (1) Reserve fund / CRF balance below recommended levels for the building's age and size. (2) Multiple deferred maintenance items, especially envelope, plumbing, or elevator work. (3) Recent or upcoming special levies — one is normal, multiple in quick succession signals chronic underfunding. (4) Insurance deductible increases (some buildings have gone from $25K to $250K+). (5) Council disputes or lack of quorum at meetings. (6) Denied document access requests. Our Strata Minutes Analyzer uses AI to detect these patterns and cross-references them against 3,493 tribunal decisions.

Question 4

How much are strata fees for a condo in Vancouver or Toronto?

Accepted Answer

Strata fees (maintenance fees in Ontario) typically range from $300–$700/month for a standard 1-2 bedroom unit, depending on building age, size, and amenities. Older buildings generally have higher fees due to increased maintenance costs. What matters more than the absolute amount is: (1) the fee trend — are fees increasing faster than inflation? (2) what's included — heat, hot water, insurance coverage. (3) the reserve fund adequacy — low fees with an underfunded reserve often means a special levy is coming. BuyersTrust building reports show fee context alongside tribunal history so you can spot these patterns.

Question 5

What is a special levy and how much could it cost me as a condo owner?

Accepted Answer

A special levy (BC) or special assessment (Ontario) is a one-time charge to owners when the reserve fund can't cover a major expense — roof replacement, elevator modernization, building envelope repair, or plumbing overhaul. In BC, special levies require a 3/4 vote at a general meeting (SPA s.108). In Ontario, the board can levy assessments without an owner vote. Amounts vary widely: $5,000–$15,000 for routine work, $20,000–$80,000+ for major envelope or structural repairs. Buildings with a history of special levies are flagged in BuyersTrust reports.

Question 6

How do I check a condo management company's reputation in Canada?

Accepted Answer

BuyersTrust tracks 90+ management companies across our database. When you search a building, we show which company manages it and cross-reference their portfolio against tribunal data. Management companies that appear in tribunal disputes across multiple buildings — particularly around document access, maintenance delays, and bylaw enforcement — show systemic patterns rather than one-off issues. This is information you won't find on the management company's own website.

Question 7

What neighbourhood data should I check before buying a condo?

Accepted Answer

Beyond the building itself, BuyersTrust reports include neighbourhood intelligence across 154 neighbourhoods: resident sentiment on transit, safety, noise, food and dining, community feel, and social scene. We aggregate sentiment observations with tone indicators (positive, negative, mixed, neutral) so you can see what people who actually live there think — not just what the real estate listing says. We also show neighbourhood rent benchmarks so investor buyers can assess rental yield potential.

Question 8

Is it safe to buy a condo that has been in a tribunal dispute?

Accepted Answer

A single tribunal case is not necessarily a dealbreaker — disputes happen in well-run buildings too. What matters is the pattern: (1) Multiple cases in the same category (e.g., repeated repair boundary disputes) suggest systemic governance issues. (2) Cases about document access denial indicate transparency problems. (3) High financial exposure from water damage cases (our data shows $654,352 total exposure across 64 cases) signals potential insurance and maintenance risk. BuyersTrust shows the full tribunal context so you can make an informed judgment, not a fear-based one.

Know the building before you buy

Building Report

Strata Minutes Analyzer

Mortgage Guide + Penalty Calculator

FinanceTrust Renewal Analyzer