How do I request a status certificate from an Ontario condo corporation?
To request a status certificate from an Ontario condominium corporation, you submit a written request — typically addressed to the property management company that manages the corporation — along with the applicable fee. The Condominium Act, 1998 allows the corporation to charge a fee set by regulation for preparing the certificate.
The corporation must provide the certificate within 10 days of receiving the request and fee. If it fails to do so, the Act provides a remedy: after the 10 days pass without delivery, it is deemed that the certificate was issued with no common expense arrears or defaults, which can expose the corporation to liability for any undisclosed problems.
In a real estate transaction, your real estate lawyer will usually handle requesting the status certificate as part of their standard work. If you are an owner requesting one for your own purposes — for example, if you're refinancing or need to provide it to a prospective buyer — you can request it directly from the property manager.
Key takeaways
- Submit a written request and the regulated fee to the corporation or its property manager.
- The corporation has 10 days to deliver the certificate or face statutory consequences.
- Your real estate lawyer typically handles the request in a resale transaction.
- Keep a record of the date and method by which you submitted the request and fee.