One of the most important parts of the home-buying process is having a professional home inspection performed. Sometimes, the home will receive top marks, with no issues found (or a few minor issues that can be easily fixed). Most of the time, however, there will be some major issues that need to be addressed before you commit to buying the…
What is the Civil Resolution Tribunal? The Civil Resolution Tribunal (the “CRT”) is Canada’s first online dispute-resolution tribunal. The CRT has jurisdiction over the following: small claims disputes of up to $5000, strata property disputes, motor vehicle injury disputes, and societies and cooperative associations disputes. The CRT’s mandate is to encourage the resolution of disputes by agreement between parties, or…
You may be familiar with the Empty Homes Tax and the Speculation and Vacancy Tax if you are a homeowner in or around the Vancouver area. The key difference between both taxes is that the first is only applicable to Vancouver whereas the latter is province-wide. As of December 31, 2019, significant updates were made to the Speculation and Vacancy…
What is the British Columbia Civil Resolution Tribunal? The British Columbia Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) is Canada’s first online tribunal. This means that it can resolve: Motor vehicle injury disputes up to $50,000 Small claims disputes up to $5,000 Strata property disputes of any amount Societies and cooperative association disputes of any amount by late summer of 2019 The CRT…
The passing of Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act, has permitted: Public possession of no more than 30 grams of dried cannabis or its equivalent for recreational use. Consumption and use of cannabis in authorized locations. Cultivation of up to 4 cannabis plants per residence. Provinces and territories are allowed to establish further rules and regulations pertaining to retail and distribution,…
Do you know what the difference is between the B.C. Speculation Tax and the City of Vancouver Empty Homes Tax? With the recent introduction of the B.C. Speculation Tax soon after the City of Vancouver Empty Homes Tax, many are left wondering: what’s the difference? It’s not uncommon to be misinformed or left confused about the nature of each type…
What is the B.C. Speculation Tax? In 2018, the NDP government introduced the B.C. Speculation Tax in an effort to dampen the hot housing market. The goal of this annual tax is to: Reduce the amount of empty homes so that more living spaces are available to B.C. residents. Reprimand foreign buyers and domestic speculators who do not pay taxes…
As an owner in a strata-operated property, do you wonder how you can challenge a strata council’s decision? As a strata council member, do you wonder how you can enforce the bylaws effectively? The Fine Effective late-2018, the maximum fine that a strata corporation may set out in its bylaws for the contravention of a bylaw that prohibits or limits…
If you own or rent an apartment in Vancouver, BC, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with your buildings strata management company. While most people have become comfortable with paying their monthly strata fees, you may not be as inclined to pay a strata bylaw fine. If you’ve received a ticket for a strata infraction, it is important to know…