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Questions & Answers

15 Articles

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Why does the contingency fund exclude work on private portions?

As the president of a horizontal co-ownership, I have noticed confusion among co-owners. They believe that the contingency fund can cover work on private portions, such as roofs, windows, or exterior cladding. However, under the Civil Code of Québec, this fund must be used exclusively for common portions. Question : Can the syndicate of co-owners legally impose a levy on co-owners to create a specific fund for work on private portions, such as roofs, windows, or…...

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Which scenario should be prioritized after a contingency fund study: status quo or the professional's recommendations?

A study of the contingency fund was recently conducted by a professional. This analysis highlighted two possible scenarios: 1. Scenario 1 (status quo): This scenario, which is not recommended by the professional, would maintain the current contributions but would result in a deficit within approximately fifteen years, requiring the use of special assessments. 2. Scenario 2: Recommended by the professional, this scenario involves a significant increase in condo fees to ensure the financial sustainability of…...

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Volunteer participation of co-owners or occupants in the maintenance of the building

Questions  : Can co-owners or occupants of the building be authorized by the board of directors to carry out voluntary work (such as painting the corridors, washing the windows, laying out a small gravel path, etc.), in short, limiting the number of contractors for the maintenance of the building, and this to save several thousand dollars each year?  And if this is possible, what are the consequences?  When it comes to liability insurance, is this…...

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Unauthorized work: Guide for the Board of directors

A co-owner carried out work on their terrace (a common portion for restricted use) without obtaining prior authorization from the board of directors. Since this work, leaks have been detected at the roof level, causing damage and posing risks to the building's integrity. This situation illustrates the limitations of co-owners' rights in restricted common portions. The board of directors asks the following questions:  How can the syndicate stop this work? Who must undertake and pay…...

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Répartition du coût des travaux

La facture qu’a reçue notre syndicat pour les travaux de changement des fenêtres se divise t-elle par le nombre d’unités ou selon la quote-part des copropriétaires? Il y a trois unités dans l’immeuble qui disposent de plus de fenêtres, mais ces copropriétaires ne sont pas d’accord pour payer plus que les autres. Que devons-nous faire?...

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Repairs in a co-ownership unit following water damage

Following water damage in our building, we consulted a plumber to find the cause. The analysis revealed a malfunction in the toilet of our neighbor's apartment, indicating that a replacement was imperative to prevent other problems. Despite the plumber's clear diagnosis and the obvious proof of malfunction during his intervention – with the toilet overflowing upon the addition of just eight squares of toilet paper and requiring emergency unclogging – the concerned owner categorically refuses…...

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Is a syndicate’s authorization required to expand a mezzanine?

We own a two-level apartment (a main floor and a mezzanine) in a three-story building. Initially, an open space above the kitchen, crossed by beams, created an open area up to the mezzanine ceiling. The first owner added glass panels on the beams, turning this space into a glass ceiling above the kitchen, which also serves as a floor for the mezzanine. We have no documentation confirming that this glass surface was designed to be…...

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Installation de nouvelles rampes : avec le fonds?

Certains copropriétaires de notre immeuble désirent changer les rampes de leurs balcons et m’ont demandé mon avis sur cette question. J’ai répondu qu’il fallait utiliser l’argent qui se trouve dans le fonds de réserve/prévoyance, car il s’agit selon moi d’une amélioration à l’immeuble. On m’a alors dit que l’argent ramassé dans ce fonds ne sert pas à cela, mais à faire le remplacement de la fenestration ou de la toiture....

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Frequency of a contingency fund study

Seven years ago, the board of directors engaged professionals to conduct a contingency fund study. Upon reviewing it, the directors at the time deemed the financial contributions required from the co-owners to the contingency fund too costly. Recently, a sale of an apartment in our building failed because the buyer was informed that the common charges had not been significantly increased. We aim to bring order to our co-ownership by adhering to the recommendations of the…...

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Can there be a limit on the contribution to the contingency fund?

I've recently become a co-owner. The building I live in, which is over 30 years old, has 10 units. The contribution to the reserve fund is substantial. In fact, it consumes 20% of the condominium's budget! This seems excessive to me. The other co-owners share this concern and question if this rate is justified. We fear that this financial burden might jeopardize our ability to cover other essential current expenses. If this situation persists, some…...

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