Every syndicate of co-owners has obligations regarding the maintenance of the common portions. The certificate of the state of the immovable is an essential step in ensuring the preservation of the immovable; it constitutes a preliminary step before seeking the services of a professional to conduct a contingency fund study. The certificate of the state of the immovable acts as a "report" of the immovable, that is to say that it observes the quality of the building at a specific point in time; it includes an inventory of the immovable's components (outdoor spaces, dwellings, equipment, etc.) that will be subject to an evaluation to establish the amounts to be contributed to the contingency fund. Although there is no legal obligation in this regard, this document should be prepared by a professional technologist, an engineer or an architect.
Purpose
The certificate of the state of the immovable provides information on the state and the physical quality of its components and is accompanied by technical comments; it informs the board of directors about the consequences as well as the nature of any observed defects and deficiencies or the need for additional studies.
Furthermore, the certificate of the state of the immovable is a key document for developing the asset management plan; it is essential for the proper administration of the immovable.
Finally, the certificate of the state of the immovable may indicate the remaining lifespan of the immovable's components based on their quality, their usage, their maintenance and the expected performance of similar components in a comparable environment; it might also include cost estimates and recommendations for necessary corrective actions.
Content
In practice, the certificate of the state of the immovable includes:
Additional expertises
Additional expertises may be required when certain components of the immovable show signs of disorder; thus, a more thorough study is needed to determine their actual condition. The same scenario applies when guarantees expire and there are suspicions of defects.
For example, additional expertises may involve vibration analysis, infrared thermography, ultrasound detection, lubricant analysis, refrigerant analysis, electrical monitoring, photography or video.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW! The certificate of the immovable is generally prepared by a building professional who assesses the immovable's compliance with construction standards at a specific point in time and, if applicable, identifies any deficiencies that may affect it.
WHAT TO KEEP IN MIND: The certificate of the state of the immovable identifies the various components in the common portions of the immovable that need to be the subject of an evaluation for the purposes of the contingency fund study.
WARNING! More often than not, the newly elected members of the board of directors are unaware of the state of their co-ownership (condominium) but thanks to the certificate of the state of the immovable, they can have a comprehensive overview.
