Definition : Director

La webradio du mercredi 1er février 2023 (à 19h) a porté sur l’éthique en copropriété. L’éthique se définit comme étant l’ensemble des principes moraux qui déterminent la conduite appropriée d'une personne. L’administrateur d’une copropriété est appelé à jouer un rôle primordial dans la saine administration de la copropriété, ainsi que la préservation du patrimoine des copropriétaires. Pour renforcer et maintenir le lien de confiance avec eux, tout administrateur se doit d’être impartial, honnête et loyal à l’égard du syndicat et des copropriétaires. Il est également tenu au respect de l’éthique et des règles déontologiques prévues au Code civil du Québec et dans la déclaration de copropriété. Or quelles sont ces règles et les conséquences pour ceux qui bafouent les règles associées à l’éthique?

La webradio du 16 mars 2022 a porté sur le lancement de la deuxième édition de l’ouvrage l'administrateur de condo : tout ce qu'il faut savoir. Il n'est pas donné à tout le monde de siéger à un conseil d’administration. Cette charge nécessite d'excellentes qualités humaines et un sens de l’éthique irréprochable. Avant tout chose, un administrateur doit faire passer l’intérêt collectif des copropriétaires au-dessus des intérêts individuels. Être administrateur de copropriété n'est certes pas toujours facile. Cette charge est lourde de responsabilités et comporte des hauts et des bas. Mais l'important, c'est qu'à la fin de son mandat, tout administrateur ait le sentiment du devoir accompli.  

26 février 2022 – Les membres du conseil d’administration jouent un rôle clé dans la copropriété car ils doivent s’impliquer dans la vie de l’immeuble pour assurer la bonne gestion de la copropriété et le bien-être des copropriétaires. Il n'est pas donné à tout le monde de siéger à un conseil d’administration. Cette charge nécessite d'excellentes qualités humaines et un sens de l’éthique irréprochable. Avant tout chose, un administrateur doit faire passer l’intérêt collectif des copropriétaires au-dessus des intérêts individuels. Au-delà de ces qualités, il est primordial qu’un administrateur maîtrise certaines connaissances en technique du bâtiment, en droit et en comptabilité.

The juridical personality of the syndicate is distinct from the one of the co-owners and directors. His acts are binding only on himself, besides for the exceptions provided by law. The faults committed by the syndicate have consequences only on its own civil liability and not on the directors. Under these conditions, they are held harmless by the syndicate and assume no responsibility for any costs, expenses, charges or losses they have incurred for the administration of the building and the syndicate. This is the basic principle, but it is important to bring several nuances to it. Indeed, a director must never lose sight of the interest of the community of co-owners.

25 mai 2021-  La question du mois apparaissant à la page d’accueil du site Condolegal.com m’a inspiré cette chronique.

Être administrateur de copropriété n'est certes pas toujours facile. Cette charge est lourde de responsabilités et comporte des hauts et des bas. Mais l'important, c'est qu'à la fin de son mandat, tout administrateur ait le sentiment du devoir accompli.

Question: Our co-ownership has 6 apartments. I am on the board of directors, which is made up of three directors. Having been unable to attend a board meeting, I gave a power of attorney to my neighbour. The two members of the Board of Directors denied this person the right to participate in the meeting. Is it legal?

The director plays a leading role in a co-ownership. As a mandatary of the syndicate of co-owners, he ensures the smooth running of the immovable’s day to day business, which implies a working knowledge of the tasks related to this key function. As such, directors must act with prudence, diligence, honesty and loyalty. The members of the board of directors thus evolve in a legal environment where their personal liability can be sought as part of their mandate on behalf of the co-ownership as well as towards third parties. The civil liability of the directors with regard to the tasks incumbent upon them is largely ignored. Thousands of Quebeckers who sit annually on a board of directors, maybe including yourself, are unaware of this state of affairs.

6 avril 2020- Dans leurs relations avec les copropriétaires, les membres du conseil d’administration doivent agir avec loyauté et équité. Ils doivent s’abstenir de tout geste qui pourrait s’apparenter à un règlement de comptes.

The board of directors is one of the two decision-making bodies of the syndicate of co-owners. It is a mandatory decision-making body for any syndicate of co-owners. Composed of one or more directors, it is the cornerstone of any well-managed co-ownership. In principle, it is the board of directors as a group that makes the decisions and not the directors individually. Its mission is to administer and ensure the preservation of the immovable. Its operation and decision-making process are governed by the declaration of co-ownership. An overview of the various specific facets of the Board of directors.

The syndicate of co-owners, as a legal person, has a juridical personality. It acts through two decision-making bodies, the meeting of the co-owners  and the board of directors. The directors are natural persons who make up the board of directors of the syndicate of co-owners, of which they are also the mandataries. In principle, it is the board of directors as a group that makes the decisions and not the directors individually. The latter are appointed or elected to contribute to the accomplishment of the mission of the syndicate and the good management of its property. They must make use of their know-how, skills and experience to accomplish this mission, making sure they respect the Law and the declaration of co-ownership. Their contribution must be performed with honesty, loyalty, care, diligence, efficiency, assiduity and fairness. A review of the different aspects of the director’s role:  

Most co-ownership directors assume this activity free of charge, effectively excluding the collection of any amount of money. But, contrary to popular belief, they can be paid. Usually, the remuneration granted to a director is mainly symbolic and is not similar to a remuneration similar to that paid to a condominium manager. Their remuneration takes various forms: salary, honorariums and attendance fees, just to name a few. This financial compensation, a part of the administrative expenses of the co-ownership, may also include the reimbursement of some expenses incurred by a director.

The director of a co-ownership is called to play a key role in the sound management of the co-ownership and preservation of the patrimony of the co-owners. To strengthen and maintain the relationship of trust with them, every director must be fair, honest and loyal toward the Syndicate and the co-wners. The director must also respect ethical standards and the Code of conductstipulated by the Civil Code of Quebec and the declaration of co-ownership. In case of doubt, directors must act according to the spirit of those principles and rules. They must also arrange their personal affairs in such a manner that they cannot interfere with the performance of their duties.

The members of the board of directors play a key role in the co-ownership: they must be involved in the life of the building to ensure the proper management of the co-ownership and the well-being of the co-owners. Usually appointed by the Meeting of the co-owners, the director is a member of the Board of Directors of the syndicate. Its duties are to make decisions on the directions and priorities of the Syndicate. Such Decisions are without limitation for the purpose of the preservation of the immovable and also the management and maintenance of common portions. People who are thinking of becoming a director of a syndicate of co-owners have or should ask themselves certain questions before submitting their candidacy for this office. Do I have the required qualities and skills?

Question: We are five co-owners in the immovable. Our director behaves like a dictator. Is there a way to remedy this situation?

December 11th 2015 - The main duty of the board of directors in a condominium is to manage the Syndicate’s business. This means first to ensure the maintenance and conservation of the building, secondly to see to it that everyone respects every disposition of the declaration of co-ownership.

  Question: One of the co-owners disturbs the  co-owners' meetings  with his endless questions and his incessant insults towards the members of the board of directors. He is always in dispute over everything, either on principle or just to be in contradiction. What can be done?

Question: What happens if the owners do not find among them the three directors required by the declaration of co-ownership? Is it possible to outsource this mandate, that is to say to a consulting firm?

The provisions related to the appointment and replacement of the directors are provided for in the By-laws of the immovable (2nd part of the declaration of co-ownership). In their absence, they are also found in the Civil Code of Quebec (C.C.Q.). The law thus leaves it to the co-owners to establish themselves, in their declaration of co-ownership, the rules that best suit them. However, the appointment of directors generally falls within the competence of the general meeting of co‑owners, although the declaration of co-ownership may provide for other provisions.