Definition : Safety code

The parking spaces legal status may differ within a co-ownership, depending on what the declaration of co-ownership (constituting act of the co-ownership) provides thereabout. These locations are either underground or outside of the immovable. The spaces designated as private portions must be distinguished from the others, which may be called common portions or common portions for restricted use. They each have their own characteristics. Every director must be made aware of same, so that the allocation of common expenses related to the maintenance or the work to be carried out is done properly. An outlook on the distinct legal status of co-ownership parking spaces.

Many co-ownerships have elevators because they are built vertically. Occupants who live there, especially those who are elderly or have reduced mobility, expect them to be in continuous operation. The syndicates of co-owners concerned are thus required to guarantee that the lifts are brought up to standard. Elevators must be kept in good working order, safety work must be carried out and the technical inspection of the elevator must be carried out according to the requirements of the Safety Code. If they are out of order, it could be the cause of serious inconvenience to the occupants, and the syndicate’s liability could be invoked.

The façades of a building not only ensure its watertightness, they alare also a main component of its appearance. In addition to protecting the occupants from the elements, the façades have an identity and style. It is therefore essential to ensure their structural and architectural integrity, if major work needs to be carried out to repair or replace them. More specifically, the main façades of a building, whose history and conceptual integrity require meticulous interventions.  Whether it is on a stand alone building, a co-ownership by phases or on townhouses. This is especially true in co-ownerships, where respecting the specific intention of the architect who designed the building is essential. In addition, some façades are subject to the Building Chapter of the Safety Code (BCSC), adopted in 2013 by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ). They must be inspected at fixed intervals and, if necessary, corrective work must be carried out to keep them safe. A review of the components that make up the envelope of a building, and which require special attention.

Work carried out in the common portions concerns the community of co-owners. This is reason why they are often carried out by the syndicate. Not only is this action consistent with its purpose and mission (article 1039 of the Civil Code of Québec), the purpose of which is to ensure the maintenance and preservation of the immovable, but it also arises from the onerous liability incumbent upon it if the work is poorly executed.