Notes on Common Sense Condo Governance

Not everything in condominium governance requires a lawyer, a formal motion, or a lengthy board discussion. Some of it just requires common sense — applied consistently.

The Basics That Get Forgotten

Read your documents. The declaration, by-laws, and rules govern your corporation. Boards that don't know what's in them make avoidable mistakes. This isn't complicated — it just requires time.

Follow the Act. Ontario's Condominium Act sets out specific requirements for meetings, notices, voting, records, and more. Non-compliance creates legal exposure. Your manager should know these requirements. So should you.

Document your decisions. Board decisions should be recorded in minutes. Not every discussion needs to be captured in detail, but the decision and the reasoning should be clear. Minutes protect the board and the corporation.

Declare conflicts of interest. When a director has a personal interest in a matter before the board, they should declare it and recuse themselves from the vote. This isn't optional — it's a legal requirement and a basic governance standard.

The Things That Seem Complicated But Aren't

Enforcing rules. Apply them consistently. Give notice. Allow a response. Escalate if necessary. Repeat.

Handling owner complaints. Acknowledge them. Investigate. Respond. Document. Most complaints resolve when owners feel heard and see that something is being done.

Managing vendors. Get quotes. Check references. Use written contracts. Inspect the work. Pay on time.

Budgeting. Start with last year's actuals. Adjust for known changes. Fund the reserve. Communicate the result to owners.

The Things That Actually Are Complicated

Some governance questions genuinely require legal advice: interpretation of the declaration, enforcement of complex rules, disputes with owners, significant contracts. Knowing when to get a legal opinion is itself a governance skill.

The goal isn't to avoid complexity — it's to handle the straightforward things straightforwardly, so that time and resources are available for the things that actually require careful attention.

Common sense, applied consistently, handles most of it.