Strata Tip of the Week – Review the General Meeting Notice Packages, Not Just the Minutes

One pushback buyers and Realtors often get from strata corporations or management companies when requesting strata documents is about the AGM and SGM notice packages. They are sometimes told the packages:

• Are not available
• Not provided to buyers, or
• That everything in the packages is already covered in the meeting minutes

We’ve even heard of buyers and Realtors being told that the packages don’t exist. But since owners must be notified of any general meeting, improper notice could invalidate the decisions made at that meeting. Funny enough, the notice packages usually turn up once this point is brought up.

Why Are Notice Packages Important?

Minutes record outcomes. Notice packages provide the context and the attachments that informed those outcomes, and they often contain information that does not appear anywhere else.

Some examples of information we look for in the notice packages (if available) include:

• The date of each notice package (a late notice could invalidate the meeting)
• President’s and Treasurer’s reports
• Contracts and quotes
• The full wording of resolutions and associated documents (such as draft bylaw packages)
• Payment due dates for special levy resolutions
• Mentions of any large upcoming projects or legal issues
• Engineering and other professional reports

It’s worth noting that there’s no legal requirement to review general meeting notice packages, or any other strata documents for that matter, but they do help you make more informed decisions.

From our experience having reviewed thousands of strata corporations across BC, notice packages often include important details that you won’t typically find anywhere else. Ultimately, whether you choose to review any specific strata documents comes down to what you’re comfortable with.

At Condo Clear, we review strata documents every day and share these insights to help buyers and owners feel more confident in navigating strata living. Sign up for our Strata Tip of the Week Newsletter today to stay up to date with the latest strata news and articles.

That’s it for this week. If you have any suggestions for other topics you’d like us to cover, please let us know at info@condoclear.ca.

Author: Mugurel Mic

Disclaimer: The information provided is for general purposes only. It is not intended to provide legal advice or opinions of any kind. No one should act, or refrain from acting, based solely upon the materials provided, any hypertext links or other general information without first seeking appropriate legal or other professional advice.

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They have been in business since 2017 and have completed over 3,000 strata reviews to date province-wide.

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