Condominiums

In general, condominiums offer greater peace of mind for the owner because the condominium corporation is responsible for “common elements” which are financed by the monthly condominium fees.

What defines common elements is set out in the by-laws and regulations, which you receive with the status certificate. For example, in a tower this usually includes the exterior and roofing systems. In a town house you may be responsible for the HVAC system – an expensive item to replace. The line between your responsibility and the corporation’s may not be obvious. For example, some condominium corporations are responsible for the building exterior up to but not including window sills, caulking and glass.

Condominium buyers need the services of both a lawyer and a property inspector to ensure that all risks and responsibilities are reviewed and assessed. Ask for a copy of the latest condominium reserve fund study to see what major common element repairs are anticipated. DoubleCheck Inspections Inc. will inspect all elements for which you are responsible and such areas as indoor parking and storage lockers.

For general guidelines on the inspection process, please see our FAQs section.

Inspect first! To book a DCI inspection online click here; email us at info@doublecheckinspections.ca,
or call 1-613-322-3682.

Central Mortgage and Housing Canada (CMHC) www.cmhc.ca has a wealth of information on home ownership, some of which is noted below. CMHC is located at 800 Montreal Road in Ottawa. You may wish to e-mail or contact them by: telephone at 1-800-688-2642, or by fax at 1-800-245-9274