Since its arrival as the only mandatory guarantee plan, Garantie de construction résidentielle (GCR) has implemented various tools to improve the quality of residential construction in Quebec and increase buyer protection.
As a follow-up to the first guide, the Guide d'entretien d'une habitation neuve, GCR is doing it again by publishing a new book: the Guide d’entretien des immeubles résidentiels en copropriété. This is mainly intended for syndicates of co-owners, who are responsible for ensuring the physical maintenance of the common portions of the building.
The management of the upkeep and maintenance of co-ownership is a subject that is certainly gaining importance in the face of the sustained growth of this type of housing, the appearance of guarantees as well as changes in construction, both technical and legislative.
The common portions of a building are defined under the Regulation respecting the guarantee plan for new residential buildings as "those forming part of the building and listed in the constituting act of co-ownership or, in the absence of specific provisions in that deed, those listed in article 1044 of the Civil Code of Quebec (C.C.Q.). According to the C.C.Q., " portions of the buildings and land that are owned by all the co-owners and serve for their common use are called the common portions.". For example, the common portions are generally composed of: ground, courtyards, balconies, access roads, stairs, corridors, passageways, doors and windows, elevators, foundations, structural work of the building, common service rooms, central heating, air conditioning, alarm systems and all pipes including when they cross the private portions.
Effective maintenance of a building extends its useful life and ensures compliance with regulations. All this proves to be economically profitable in the long term, while providing peace of mind to the occupants. Periodic inspections and maintenance are not only recommended, but will soon have to be recorded in a maintenance logbook.
GCR therefore proposes, in this guide, the tools and information necessary to navigate these meanders of information and thus ensure sound co-ownership management.
Consult the Maintenance Guide for Residential co-ownership.