The role of a strata manager

Check out these tips from the Financial Institutions Commission of B.C.’s guide, What to Know About Contracting With a Strata Property Manager:

• Understand that a strata manager “acts on behalf of the entire strata corporation,” while the strata council gives instruction and is responsible for supervising manager activities.
• Property managers typically arrange services and enter into contracts for maintenance, insurance, electrical services, etc.; collect strata fees and pay bills; keep and permit access to strata corporation records; prepare documents on behalf of the corporation; attend strata council and general meetings and prepare and distribute minutes; prepare budgets and financial statements and advise council as to property-related legislation.
• A strata manager does not act as an arbitrator without the consent of all parties, nor hold hearings on behalf of the strata council to determine if an owner has breached a bylaw, or if a person should be fined, or by what amount. Nor can he or she spend strata-corporation money without the council’s authority.