About Us


This website (originally started as bcstratachanges.ca in 2009) is supported by a coalition of British Columbia strata and condo owners seeking strata law that protects their rights as property owners and provides access to justice when their rights are abused.   They are strata council members, strata association board members and individual strata owners frustrated by BC’s antiquated legislation.   The website is provided as a tool for concerned strata owners to inform themselves and make representations to government and the media for the purpose of obtaining legislation that is long overdue.

Please Note: This website is not intended to be a “help line” for a strata owner with a specific problem requiring immediate attention.   Such owners are encouraged to visit www.visoa.bc.ca or contact that organization for information at info@visoa.bc.ca


Background


In BC there are over 520,000 strata units.   In the lower mainland and Victoria over 50% of taxable properties are strata units.   It is estimated that over 700,000 British Columbians are owners of condos or strata units. BC strata legislation last received a comprehensive review in 2008 and has since been the subject of thousands of complaints from strata owners.   Instead of launching a comprehensive review of strata property legislation based on public consultation, Minister of Finance Colin Hansen introduced a few amendments in the form of Bill 12 just before the 2009 general election.   The government claims to have consulted with developers, strata managers, lawyers and some strata associations in its development of Bill 12.    However, only people who agreed to sign a “confidentiality agreement” were permitted to view the government’s proposed changes and on the condition that they never mention it to anyone.   This is not a joke! It actually happened! Before the 2009 election the government talked about “going out” and getting feedback on Bill 12 from whoever was interested.   However, this did not happen.   After the election the government reintroduced Bill 12 as Bill 8 and, on October 6, forced it through the legislature without public consultation.    Bill 8 has since been coming into effect in pieces as enabling regulations are released by government. Bill 8 was the product of a closed-door policy-making process and it shows. The government excluded the people most affected, strata owners themselves.   Among other things, the Bill’s narrow focus ignored the glaring lack of accountability for misconduct by developers and strata property managers. Furthermore, unlike Alberta and Ontario, it leaves BC without defined offences and penalties for flagrant non-compliance with the law. Concerned strata owners can visit the "What You Can Do” section of this website for a suggested letter to use in expressing their views about the public input needed to produce a new and broader Bill based on the concerns of strata owners.

Contents

History

The British Columbia Strata Property Act (SPA) came into force on July 1, 2000. Since then there has been massive growth in the number and diversity of strata properties. Many problems have arisen in applying the Act to strata issues and in protecting the rights of strata owners. Although the present BC government made a commitment in 2003 to review the SPA it has refused to undertake either a comprehensive review of strata legislation or consult publicly about the legislation that affects over 700,000 strata owners. Instead it passed Bill 8 in 2009 to amend the SPA based on "private and confidential" discussions with real estate industry insiders while ignoring many pressing concerns of strata owners. This website is provided as a resource for strata owners seeking a public review of BC legislation affecting the rights of strata owners.