A guide to unenforceable strata bylaws

It takes a lot to build a great community. You need committed residents, a dedicated strata council, and a clear understanding of everybody's roles and responsibilities.

Comprehensive training gives your strata manager the tools they need to support your council and resident needs, while creating operational successes.

While communicating clearly and effectively with residents is vitally important, it is just as important to foster better strata council communication.

Effective communication fosters better relationships among council members, your residents and property management company, and keeps all parties well informed. Here are the 4 components of a successful communication plan that create effective outreach to all members of your community.

Whether you have been newly elected to your Council or you have been a Council member for several years, you owe it to your residents to make sure that you are managed by the best strata management company. Every condominium corporation differs in their needs, so you must take the proper time and ask the right questions when hiring a strata management company.>

Creating your strata corporation’s annual budget is one of your council’s most important jobs. It takes a lot of time and hard work, and it frequently means making tough spending decisions. Strata members often scrutinize it carefully because of how much it impacts the strata as a whole and themselves as individual homeowners. “The budget affects everyone because it’s something that all the owners in the strata are contributing to,” explains Dylan Murray, controller for FirstService Residential in British Columbia. “You can never over communicate about it.”
 

When your community considers a new manager, having the right experts on your management team can make for a smooth transition.

How well do homeowners in your strata corporation understand strata maintenance and repair responsibilities? Creating a Responsibility Matrix can ensure everyone knows their role.

Your strata council is working on next year’s budget. You know how important the budget is, what it means to the future of your strata. You know that your fiduciary responsibility is the most important commitment you make to your fellow homeowners. And you’ve planned, and figured, and followed all the budgeting steps, but you’re still staring at the one thing NO strata council wants to do: an increase in strata fees. Before finalizing that increase, take a long, hard look at cost containment strategies that can save your strata money and help optimize your operating budget.
 

For a Strata resident, the lifestyle experience doesn’t begin when they step into your unit. It begins when they set foot in the main entrance – and are greeted by the front desk representative.

For guests, the front desk representative sets the tone for their entire perception of the Strata property. For residents, the front desk representative is a touchstone throughout their day, every day. It’s an important role to fill.