Resources
Helpful information for strata councils across the Lower Mainland, the basics
worth knowing and the questions that come up most often, whether you manage your
own building or work alongside us.
For Strata Councils
A Clear Starting Point For Your Council
Running a strata takes a working knowledge of budgets, bylaws, meetings, and long-term planning, and a lot of that is learned on the job. We have gathered the basics here, the things councils ask us about most often, so you have somewhere clear to start. For anything specific to your building, your own bylaws and the Strata Property Act are always the final word, and we are glad to help you work through the details.
Strata Basics
A quick plain-language look at the parts of strata life that come up most.
The Operating Fund
Your operating fund covers the everyday, recurring costs of running your building, such as utilities, landscaping, insurance, and routine maintenance. It is set each year through the budget your owners approve at the annual general meeting.
The Contingency Reserve Fund
The contingency reserve fund, or CRF, is the savings your strata sets aside for large, less frequent expenses, like roofing, boilers, or building envelope work. A well-funded reserve is what keeps a building from facing sudden special levies.
Depreciation Reports
A depreciation report is a long-term plan that estimates the cost of repairing and replacing your building's major components over the coming decades, so your council can budget ahead. BC's requirements around these reports have changed in recent years, so it is worth confirming where your strata stands.
Bylaws And Rules
Bylaws are your strata's main governing document, covering how the building is administered and how owners and the council operate, and they are filed at the Land Title Office. Rules are narrower, covering the day-to-day use of common property. Knowing which is which matters when a question comes up.
The Annual General Meeting
Every strata holds an annual general meeting, where owners approve the budget, elect the council, and vote on the year's larger decisions. A well-run AGM keeps owners informed and keeps the building's decisions on the record.
Resolving Disputes
Most strata disputes in BC are resolved without going to court, often through mediation or the Civil Resolution Tribunal. Understanding your options early can keep a small disagreement from turning into a costly one.
A Tool We Work With
When your council needs official strata documents like Form B's, Form F's, depreciation reports, or certificates, eStrataHub is the platform we use. It pulls together everything a buyer or seller needs in one place, on the timelines that the Strata Property Act sets out, so your council can respond to requests without scrambling for paperwork.
Common Questions From Councils
A healthy reserve fund is one that can cover your building’s major repairs and
replacements as they come due, without forcing a special levy each time. A
current depreciation report is the best tool for judging this, since it lays out
what is coming and roughly when. If your reserve looks thin against what the
report projects, that is worth addressing early.
Look for proper licensing and insurance, references from similar strata
projects, and a clear written scope of work before anything begins. For larger
jobs, getting more than one quote, and on significant projects bringing in
independent oversight, protects the strata and helps you compare fairly.
Send proper notice within the timelines your bylaws require, prepare the budget
and any resolutions in advance, and make sure owners have what they need to vote
with good information. A well-prepared agenda keeps the meeting focused and the
decisions clean.
Have A Question We Haven't Answered?
If your council is working through something specific, get in touch and we'll help you find your footing.