Follow the news of the condominium corporation

April 19, 2023 – The news challenges us again and raises serious concerns, with a case of probable bankruptcy for the Pimbina syndicates, which make up the Faubourg Boisbriand co-ownership, struggling with a situation of "accelerated" decline of some 150 units, built barely 15 years ago, due to the poor quality of construction and hidden defects. Indeed, an article from Radio-Canada, broadcast today on its digital platform, reveals the sad fate of 27 buildings of six condo units each in the Faubourg Boisbriand. Construction defects and contamination caused by fungi, the result of water infiltration behind brick facades, are pushing the condominium syndicate to the brink of bankruptcy. 

April 2, 2023 - As reported in an article by journalist Zacharie Gaudreault of the newspaper Le Devoir, a co-owner of a building located  in the Griffintown district of Montreal has been sentenced by a judgment of the Superior Court of Quebec to pay more than $85,000 in penalties and extrajudicial fees for illegally renting her short-term apartment,  between 2016 and 2019. The syndicate of Co-ownership of Griffin Îlot 10 Residential, represented by lawyer Karl Michel of LJT Avocats, asked the Court to make a permanent injunction order against Ms. Lu Zhao and to condemn her to pay damages, for violation of the provision of the building's by-laws that prohibits co-owners from renting their housing on a short-term basis on websites dedicated to short-term rental, such as Airbnb.

March 3, 2023 – On June 8, 2021, the National Assembly of Québec assented the Act mainly to improve the transparency of enterprises (Bill 78). This Bill makes amendments to the Act respecting the legal publicity of enterprises. New responsibilities have been entrusted to the Enterprise registrar. This new legislative framework entered into force on 31 March 2023 and introduced new obligations relating to the publication of information by registrants, including syndicates of co-owners. The Government of Quebec has thus improved the information available at the Registre des entreprises du Québec (the "REQ"), while improving corporate transparency, strengthening public protection and contributing to efforts to fight tax evasion, money laundering and corruption.

August 21, 2021 - As of September 1, the vaccination passport will apply to certain activities deemed non-essential throughout Quebec. Bars, restaurants and gyms will be particularly affected by this measure. However, many wonder about such a mesure with regard to meetings of co-owners and meetings of the board of directors held face-to-face.

April 27, 2020 - Virtual general meetings of co-owners are permitted until further notice, due to the coronavirus crisis (COVID-19). The Minister of Health and Social Services, Danielle McCann, has just announced this by ministerial order. This authorization will calm concerns expressed by several syndicates of co-owners, who see their operations paralyzed, because only in-person meetings of co-owners are permitted by the Civil Code of Quebec.

  April 19, 2020 - Condolegal.com and Regroupement des gestionnaires et copropriétaires du Québec (RGCQ - Quebec Group of Managers and Co-owners) have received hundreds of questions over the past few weeks about the impact of COVID-19 on condominiums. They range from maintenance measures to traffic in the building, even police intervention. It is in this special context that the RGCQ's general secretary, lawyer emeritus Yves Joli-Coeur, gave an interview to Radio-Canada journalist Mathieu Dion.

March 24, 2020 - The discord settles in co-ownership in Quebec, because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the constraints it causes in several buildings. Some of their occupants questioned the legitimacy of the directors to make unpopular decisions. Swimming pools, terraces, gyms, saunas, lounges and libraries are suddenly closed in order to comply with government directives, which now prohibit gatherings of individuals.  

March 15, 2020 - A recent online survey posted on Condolegal.com about the coronavirus (COVID-19) reveals that several Quebec condominiums have not taken any measures to prevent its spread. According to responses, up to now, approximately 80% of respondents confirm this reality. It would be wise for condominium directors to take certain actions to counter the virus, such as clean door handles regularly in common areas, as well as elevator buttons.  

September 27, 2019 - The professionalization of condo managers, as well as the best practices to be deployed within this housing model, have been at the heart of debates for several years now in several French-speaking territories around the world. Whether in Quebec or in Europe, a number of players working in this field are meeting to discuss it.  

September 4, 2019 - Yves Joli-Coeur, lawyer emeritus and Secretary General of the RGCQ, gave two interviews yesterday on both the radio and television channels of Radio-Canada. The subject on the agenda was Bill 16, which aims to reform co-ownership law in Quebec.