Definition : Administrative Housing Tribunal

Afflicted with a health issue, you want to move to an apartment closer to your daughter, which is fitting, given that a unit in her condo building is for sale. However, this unit is rented. During a visit to the premises, the tenant informs you that he has no intention of leaving, claiming a right to stay there for life. At least, for as long as he wants to. On the other hand, the seller tells you that the tenant will have to leave the unit upon receiving a notice of repossession. Intrigued by the tenant's statement, you take time to interview several people to verify this "lease for a lifetime" matter. The answers provided reassure you: if it is sent six months before the planned repossession date, the notice of repossession should allow you to take back the apartment.  

The conversion of an immovable into divided co-ownership has certain undeniable advantages, including that of being able to obtain a mortgage loan from the financial institution of one's choice, while in joint ownership, all owners must finance themselves with the same institution. In addition, the minimum down payment in undivided co-ownership required is 20% of the purchase price of the apartment, and not 5%, as is the case in divided co-ownership, since mortgage insurers do not provide insurance for such loans. It is in this specific context that many owners wish to convert their building into divided co-ownership.

I am co-owner of an apartment that is located on the ground floor in a fairly old building. The service crawl space below my apartment is not heated. This common portion of the building is currently 9 degrees in the middle of it and our floor is frozen (10.6°C on the floor in our daughter's room and in the bathroom). We are therefore forced to heat really hard and constantly because the temperature ensuring a comfort zone is never reached. Questions: At what temperature is a heater considered insufficient? What is the minimum temperature for common portions such as crawl space and passageways? What are my recourses in case of insufficient heating?

A trend towards the rental of units held in divided co-ownership has manifested itself in recent years in large urban centres as well as resort centres. Although renting a property is a recognized right for a co-owner, he must know the rules applicable in this matter. The law and the declaration of co-ownership list the obligations to which tenants and co-owners-lessors commit themselves when they sign a lease, such as compliance with the by-laws of the immovable. Some of these obligations can cause the resiliation of the lease if they are not respected !

Lorsqu'un litige survient en copropriété, les copropriétaires doivent bien souvent s’adresser aux tribunaux pour faire valoir leurs droits. Mais une majorité d’entre eux s’abstiennent de le faire, en raison des coûts astronomiques qui y sont associés. La solution à ce problème serait la mise en place, au Québec, d’un tribunal administratif de la copropriété. Sa mission serait comparable à celle du Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL), anciennement appelé Régie du logement.

The declaration of co-ownership is a contract that orchestrates and regulates the lives of co-owners, lessees and other occupants of the immovable. It represents the guideline for everyone who lives in the immovable.The declaration of co-ownership provides, systematically, that it is up to the board of directors to have its content abided to. However, it happens that people break the rules, in particular by a non-compliant use of a private portion with regard to the destination of the immovable, a noise nuisance and work carried out in violation of the by the laws of the immovable. Other examples illustrate the problems that can occur in the co-ownership, such as an encroachment on a common portion or the improper installation of a floor covering. Anyone who does not abide to the declaration of co-ownership is liable, inter alia, to a legal recourse based on article 1080 of the Civil Code of Quebec . This action may be brought by a co-owner or the syndicate.

When it comes time to acquire a home, many buyers turn to the acquisition of a multi-unit building (such as a duplex, triplex, quadruplex, etc.). The direct conversion of rental units to divided co-ownership is prohibited in some cities, with a few exceptions, which is why owners first turn them into undivided co-ownership. It should be noted that a building, whose dwellings are all occupied by undivided owners,can be converted into divided co-ownership, subject to certain conditions. But carrying out this conversion requires to overcome several steps involving all owners concerned.

Among the employees of a condominium building, we find the janitor. The latter's main mission is to carry out various housekeeping work in the common portions of the building. He takes care of both the interior and the exterior, the entrance, the hall, the corridors, the stairs and sometimes the garden. He also ensures general surveillance of the building and must report the disorders if necessary. The relationship between the syndicate and the janitor, like any contractual relationship, must be well defined from the beginning, in order to avoid conflicts that can be costly for the co-ownership.  

When the rented property is an apartment, all tenants must comply with the by-laws of the immovable. However, tourists  who rent a condo temporarily have often not received a copy. Therefore, without even knowing it, they may be in breach of the provisions included in this regulation. These tourists can use the parking spaces reserved for visitors, thus reducing the number of spaces available. Others park squarely in the spaces belonging to the co-owners. In addition, these temporary occupants may be less aware of safety considerations, as well as the tranquility of the co-owners. In short, they usually consider the unit they rented as a hotel room.

The purchase of a condo leased to a third party is a frequent occurrence in the resale market. Save for an agreement to the contrary, nothing prohibits a co-owner lessor from selling and a purchaser of purchasing an apartment even though the tenant wishes to continue to reside in it. The lease is attached to the immovable, not to the co-owner/ lessor. The lease will continue to be in force even if the unit is sold and the terms and conditions of the lease shall remain the same. Be careful, however, there are some pitfalls and if you are not careful your investment could quickly prove unsuccessful. This is the reason why you need to follow a few steps before, especially if you are a real estate owner for the first time.

Je suis copropriétaire-locateur et je loue mon unité de condo à un couple depuis 1 an. Ils ne m'ont pas payé les deux derniers loyers. Que dois-je faire : envoyer une mise en demeure, appeler un avocat? Quelle instance est compétente pour entendre les litiges entre copropriétaire et locataire?