Not Every Annoyance Is a Governance Issue

One of the most important distinctions in condominium governance is the difference between things that are genuinely the corporation's responsibility and things that are simply part of living in close proximity to other people.

Not every annoyance is a governance issue. Not every complaint requires a formal response. And not every problem has a management solution.

What the Corporation Is Responsible For

The corporation is responsible for maintaining the common elements, enforcing the rules, managing the finances, and meeting its legal obligations. These are real responsibilities with real consequences for non-compliance.

When the corporation fails in these areas, owners have legitimate grounds for complaint and, if necessary, formal recourse.

What the Corporation Is Not Responsible For

The corporation is not responsible for:

  • Resolving personal disputes between neighbours that don't involve rule violations
  • Ensuring that everyone in the community gets along
  • Preventing all noise, all odours, and all inconveniences that come with shared living
  • Making individual owners happy with every decision the board makes

Owners who expect management to resolve every interpersonal conflict, or who escalate every minor annoyance to a formal complaint, are misusing the governance system — and creating work that diverts resources from genuine issues.

The Practical Test

Before escalating a concern to management or the board, ask:

  • Does this involve a violation of the Act, the declaration, by-laws, or rules?
  • Is this a maintenance or safety issue that the corporation is responsible for?
  • Have I tried to resolve this directly with the person involved?

If the answer to the first two questions is no, and you haven't tried direct resolution, start there.

For Boards and Management

Part of good governance is helping owners understand what the corporation can and cannot do. A management provider that accepts every complaint as a governance issue — and promises to "look into it" regardless of whether it's actually the corporation's responsibility — is not serving the community well.

Clear communication about the corporation's role, and gentle redirection when owners bring matters that are outside that role, is a service to everyone.