Definition : Abuse of right - Abuse of power

Vivre en copropriété requiert une certaine tolérance et d'être diplomate à ses heures. Les conflits entre copropriétaires et administrateurs peuvent, bien souvent, trouver leur apaisement dans la communication. Bien que ce soit parfois plus facile à dire qu'à faire, mieux vaut (à tout le moins) essayer cette avenue, au lieu de se retrouver au tribunal avec toutes les répercussions négatives que cela suppose.

At a meeting of the board of directors, directors must not make any decision that is biased, or with the intention of harming the co-owners (or any of them) or disregarding their rights. In case of defect, the co-owners (or a director) can now take legal proceedings to oppose decisions taken by the ​Board of directors. Article 1086.2 of the Civil Code of Quebec, which came into force on January 10, 2020, allows the court to set aside or, exceptionally, to correct a decision of the board of directors. The proceedings must be initiated within 90 days of the decision of the board of directors. In order to promote stability of the Board’s decisions, the legislator allows to bring such recourses only in certain circumstances.

  Irregularities noted at a meeting of co-owners do not make the decisions taken non-existent, but voidable. Consequently, the co-owner who intends to invoke the irregularity of a decision must initiate a legal proceeding, in accordance with article 1103 of the Civil Code of Quebec. Wishing to promote the stability of the decisions taken by the assembly, the legislature allows such a remedy to be brought only in certain circumstances. Thus, any co-owner may ask the court to annul or, exceptionally, modify a decision of the meeting of co-owners if it is partial, if it was taken with the intention of harming the co-owners or in disregard of their rights, or if an error occurred in the calculation of votes.  

Many co-owners mistakenly believe they have carte blanche, when they want to change their kitchen space, renovate the electrical installation or plumbing or knock down a wall. However, the by-law of the immovable (declaration of co-ownership) generally include strict rules, limitations and even prohibitions concerning work that can be undertaken in a private portion. This explains why, in many cases, the co-owners require prior authorization from the board of directors. This decision-making body has the power to approve several types of work that co-owners would like to do in their apartment.