The SearchStrata blog
Your guide to navigating strata document analysis, condo due diligence, and the Canadian real estate market. Learn how to spot red flags, understand financials, and make confident buying decisions.
These articles are general information about BC strata and home-buying, current as of each post's publication date — not legal, financial, or tax advice. Verify current rules and consult a qualified professional before acting.
Getting Voting Thresholds Right: Council’s Guide to Majority, 3/4, and Unanimous Votes in BC Stratas
BC strata councils must navigate majority, 3/4, and unanimous votes when making key decisions. This guide breaks down when each threshold applies, common pitfalls, and how to document results to protect your strata from challenges.
Responding Defensibly to Owner Requests for Strata Records: Council’s Role in Upholding Transparency
Strata council members face growing scrutiny around records access and privacy. Learn the essentials of responding to owner requests for strata records, from timing and scope to practical documentation tips, so your council stays compliant and defensible.
Approving Strata Contracts Defensibly: Council’s Role Before the Ink Dries
Before signing any contract, BC strata councils need to meet specific standards of diligence, transparency, and process. Here’s a defensible approach to contract approvals that council members and property managers can rely on.
How BC Strata Councils Can Enforce Bylaws Fairly and Defensibly
Bylaw enforcement is one of the toughest – and most scrutinized – duties for BC strata councils. This guide covers defensible processes, fair penalty practices, and tips for maintaining trust and compliance when enforcing your strata’s bylaws.
Writing Defensible Strata Council Minutes: Protecting Your Strata’s History and Decisions
Accurate, defensible minutes are a legal requirement and your strata’s memory. Learn practical best practices for council members and property managers to create minutes that stand up under scrutiny and serve your community for years.
Succession Planning for BC Strata Councils: Preserving Good Governance Beyond BC Day
BC Day is a reminder for strata councils and managers to build strong succession plans. Learn practical steps to preserve good governance and institutional memory in your strata, including onboarding, documentation, and handover best practices.
AGM and SGM Notice Packages: What Strata Councils Must Get Right to Avoid Disputes
Clear, compliant AGM and SGM notice packages are a council’s first line of defense against procedural challenges and owner frustration. Here’s how BC strata councils and property managers can build reliable packages and avoid common missteps.
How to Tender and Approve Strata Contracts Defensibly: A Council Member’s Guide
Defensible contract tendering and approval is essential for any BC strata council. Learn practical, risk-aware steps for sourcing bids, evaluating vendors, documenting decisions, and handling owner scrutiny during the contract process.
Responding to Owner Records Requests: A Council Member’s Defensible Playbook
When BC strata owners request access to records, council and property managers must follow a clear, legal process. Here’s how to handle owner records requests defensibly—from timelines to document redactions, and maintaining trust and compliance.
Proxies and Voting at BC Strata AGMs: Preventing Confusion and Disputes
Learn how BC strata councils and managers can manage proxies and voting at AGMs to avoid common pitfalls, ensure fair procedure, and reduce the risk of post-meeting disputes.
Defensible Strata Decisions: How to Document Council Resolutions That Stand Up to Scrutiny
BC strata councils are often judged on how decisions are made and recorded. Here’s how to document council resolutions clearly—so you’re ready for owner challenges, audits, or a CRT dispute.
Handling Conflict of Interest Defensibly: A Guide for BC Strata Council Members
Conflict of interest is a common challenge for BC strata councils, especially in close-knit buildings. Learn how to identify, manage, and document conflicts so your council’s decisions remain defensible and fair.