When you purchase a resale or previously owned condominium unit, the seller is under no legal obligation to provide you with documentation about the complex. However, under the Condominium Property Act, a condominium corporation must provide the following documents within 10 days of receiving a written request from a potential buyer. Download Buying a Resale Condo: Document Checklist.
A condominium corporation can charge a reasonable fee for preparing and reproducing any requested documents.
Finance & Operations
- Reserve Fund Report & Plan
- Budget & Financial Statements
- Annual Report
- Estoppel Certificate (details about condominium contributions)
- Statement outlining unit factors and criteria used to determine unit factors (information also included on Condominium Plan)
- Management Agreement
- Minutes of the general meetings of the condo board
Bylaws & Rules
- Bylaws (will also be filed with the Condominium Plan)
- Recreational Agreement
- Exclusive Use Agreement or Lease for Common Property
Insurance / Structural Information
- Insurance Certificate
- Insurance Policy (corporation has 30 days to provide after receiving request)
- Details about post-tension cables on property (information also available with the Condominium Plan)
- Statement outlining any structural deficiencies the corporation has knowledge of at the time of the request
Legal
- Legal actions or claims against corporation, including outstanding judgment orders
- Any written demands against corporation that exceed $5,000
Additional Documents
The 10 day timeline does not apply to these documents. But you should still request and review them. Talk to your lawyer or real estate agent obtaining these documents.
- Condominium Plan, including any Condominium Additional Plan Sheets (CAD) – can be requested from Land Titles Office or Registry Agent)
- Certificate of Title – can be requested from Land Titles Office or Registry Agent
- Condominium Newsletters – request from Condominium Corporation
- Contact information for Condominium Board of Directors – request from Condominium Corporation, also available on CAD
- Real Property Report (for bare land units only) – request from seller
Further Resources
- Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta – Buying a Resale Condo: Document Checklist (PDF, Alberta-specific information)
- Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta – Before You Buy: Understanding Condo Finances (PDF, Alberta-specific information)
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation: Checklist for Buying a Resale Condo (not Alberta-specific)
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation: Physical Evaluation Checklist (not Alberta-specific)
June 2022
