When you buy a condo, you are buying into a shared building and its finances as well as a unit. The documents the condo corporation produces tell you how healthy those finances are. CMHC's condo buyer's guide suggests making any offer conditional on a satisfactory review of these documents, with help from a lawyer or notary. The names change by province, but the questions are the same.
The key document in your province
Ontario: the status certificate
The Condominium Authority of Ontario says a corporation can charge up to $100, including taxes, and must provide a status certificate within 10 days. It can include the declaration, by-laws and rules, the budget and latest audited financial statements, the most recent reserve fund study, the unit's common expenses and any arrears, special assessments, insurance certificates and any legal judgments or lawsuits. The authority recommends that buyers have their lawyer review it.
British Columbia: Form B and Form F
A strata corporation must provide a Form B Information Certificate within 7 days of a request, for a maximum of $35 plus up to 25 cents per page for copies. It covers strata fees, amounts owed, pending special levies and the contingency reserve fund. The Form F certificate of payment confirms whether the owner owes the strata money and is needed to transfer title. Since July 1, 2024, stratas with five or more lots must get a depreciation report on a five-year cycle.
Alberta: the estoppel certificate
Alberta's rules say estoppel certificates must include information about unpaid special levies. Corporations must also complete a reserve fund study at least every 5 years, looking ahead 30 years, and give owners an annual reserve fund report.
Quebec: the syndicate's attestation
Since August 14, 2025, a co-ownership syndicate must give a selling owner an attestation on the state of the co-ownership within 15 days of the request. It covers items such as the contingency fund balance, insurance and the highest deductible, past and planned major work, and ongoing lawsuits. The board must also obtain a contingency fund study every five years.
What to look for in the documents
- Fees and what they include. Know exactly which utilities and services the monthly fee covers, and how much it has risen in recent years.
- Reserve or contingency fund. Compare the balance with what the latest study recommends. CMHC warns that an underfunded fund can lead to a big jump in fees or a lump-sum payment when major repairs come due.
- Special assessments or levies. Ask whether any are approved, proposed or likely.
- Insurance and deductibles. Check the building's coverage and the deductible owners may be charged after a claim, and plan your own unit policy around it.
- Rules and by-laws. Look for limits on rentals, pets, renovations and what can go on a balcony.
- Lawsuits and arrears. Ongoing litigation or a seller who owes fees can delay closing or cost owners money.
Next steps before you firm up
Build enough time into your conditions to order and review the documents, since delivery alone can take 7 to 15 days depending on the province. Ask your lawyer or notary to flag anything unusual, and ask your lender whether it needs the documents too. A realtor who works with condos can help you request them early, and a condo appraisal may be required for financing. Add condo fees and any special assessment to your budget with the closing costs calculator.
Sources
- Condominium Authority of Ontario, Status certificates, 2026-08-12. Accessed 2026-10-23.
- Government of British Columbia, Form B: Information Certificate, 2026-09-01. Accessed 2026-10-23.
- Government of British Columbia, Form F: the Certificate of Payment, 2026-09-22. Accessed 2026-10-23.
- Government of British Columbia, Strata depreciation report requirements, 2025-11-12. Accessed 2026-10-23.
- Government of Alberta, Reserve funds, 2026-08-14. Accessed 2026-10-23.
- Government of Alberta, Special levies, 2026-08-14. Accessed 2026-10-23.
- Gouvernement du Québec, Mesures applicables aux copropriétés divises pour les propriétaires et les constructeurs, 2026-05-22. Accessed 2026-10-23.
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Condominium Buyer's Guide: Buying a Condominium, 2018-03-31. Accessed 2026-10-23.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Condo rules differ by province and change over time; confirm current requirements with a lawyer, notary or the provincial authority.
