Purchasing a Condominium in Ontario

This presentation reviews Ontario condominium purchases with a practical focus on ownership structure and status certificate due diligence under the Condominium Act. It distinguishes standard condominiums from common elements condominiums (often described as freehold condominiums or parcel of tied land) and contrasts these with co-ownership and co-operative arrangements, highlighting how title, governance, and financing risk differ. The presentation emphasizes cross-referencing the agreement of purchase and sale against the status certificate, title searches, plans, and declaration schedules to confirm unit identifiers, parking or lockers, and any exclusive use allocations. It highlights common issues that affect clients in practice, including fee discrepancies, arrears, insurance and deductibles, disclosed litigation, reserve fund information and related studies, and management remarks that signal restrictions or potential compliance problems. Practical takeaways include using a repeatable checklist, obtaining and sharing plans to confirm layout and boundaries, contacting property management when records are unclear, and documenting client communication and review limits to manage professional responsibility.