Complete Glossary of Condominium Terms in Quebec - Reference Guide 2025
The definitive guide to essential terms for understanding and managing your condominium in Quebec
🔠 A
Condominium Constitution
Legal document published in the land registry that establishes the legal existence of the divided condominium. It contains a description of the building, the division into private and common areas, and the distribution of voting rights.
Condominium administrator
An elected member of the board of directors responsible for managing the day-to-day affairs of the condominium association. Administrators have significant legal responsibilities and may be held personally liable for their decisions.
Assembly of co-owners
Mandatory annual (or special) meeting during which co-owners make collective decisions concerning the building. This is where the budget, major work, the election of the board of directors, and amendments to the rules are discussed.
Special meeting
A meeting convened outside of the annual general meeting to deal with urgent or specific matters requiring a quick decision by the co-owners.
Certificate of the syndicate
A document required by Bill 16 that the syndicate must provide when a unit is sold. It details the financial and technical condition of the condominium to inform potential buyers.
🔠 B
Provisional budget
Annual financial document prepared by the board of directors detailing the projected income and expenses for the coming year, including contributions to common expenses and the contingency fund.
🔠 C
Maintenance log
Document required since Bill 16 that lists all the components of the building, their condition, their lifespan, past maintenance work, and plans for future work. Must be updated annually and revised every 5 or 10 years depending on the size of the building.
Building condition certificate
Detailed technical inspection report prepared by a qualified professional (engineer, architect, technologist) that assesses the current physical condition of all components of the building.
Common expenses
Expenses shared among all co-owners for the administration, maintenance, and upkeep of the building. Distributed according to the relative value of the fractions established in the declaration of co-ownership.
Civil Code of Québec (CCQ)
The main legal framework governing divided co-ownerships in Québec. Articles 1038 to 1109 define, among other things, the functioning of the syndicate, the rights and obligations of co-owners, and the rules of management.
Board of directors
A group of 3 to 9 people elected by the co-owners' meeting to manage the day-to-day affairs of the syndicate. Responsible for maintenance, finances, enforcement of the rules, and legal compliance.
Divided co-ownership
A form of co-ownership where the building is divided into private portions (belonging individually to the co-owners) and common portions (shared by all). Standard model for condominiums in Quebec.
Special contribution
An exceptional financial contribution requested from co-owners to cover unexpected expenses or when the contingency fund is insufficient. Since Bill 16, requires prior consultation with the assembly.
🔠 D
Declaration of co-ownership
Fundamental legal document consisting of three parts: the constitutive act (legal aspects), the building regulations (rules of living) and the descriptive statement of the fractions (technical description). Published in the land registry.
Useful life
Estimated period during which a component of the building can function normally before requiring replacement. Basis for calculating the contingency fund.
🔠 E
Preventive maintenance
Regularly scheduled actions to keep building components in good condition and extend their useful life. Includes inspections, cleaning, adjustments, and minor repairs.
Descriptive statement of fractions
Part of the declaration of co-ownership that describes each private unit and common area in detail, with supporting technical plans.
Contingency fund study
Technical and financial analysis required by Act 16, carried out by a qualified professional, which determines the amounts needed to finance major repairs and replacements over 25 years.
🔠 F
Self-insurance fund
Financial reserve set up to cover insurance deductibles and damages not covered by insurance policies. Requirement introduced by Act 141.
Contingency fund
Separate bank account required to be used exclusively to finance major repairs and replacement of common areas. Must represent at least 5% of annual common expenses.
Fraction
Portion of the condominium comprising a private portion and a share of the common areas. Each fraction has a relative value that determines voting rights and the distribution of expenses.
🔠 G
Property manager
Professional appointed by the board of directors to manage the day-to-day operations of the condominium: finances, maintenance, relations with suppliers, monitoring of work.
🔠 I
Condominium building
A building divided between several owners, consisting of private areas (apartments, parking spaces) and common areas (structure, roof, corridors, communal facilities).
🔠 L
Bill 16
Law that came into effect in 2025 to modernize and strengthen the management of condominiums in Quebec. Makes maintenance logs and contingency fund studies mandatory and introduces new transparency and planning requirements.
Bill 141
Law passed in 2020 that modernizes the insurance regime for condominiums, requires a five-year evaluation of the building, and creates the obligation to have a self-insurance fund.
🔠 M
Qualified majority
Voting threshold required for certain important decisions at co-owners' meetings. May be simple (50% + 1), absolute (majority of registered votes), or reinforced (2/3 or 3/4 depending on the decision).
Preventive maintenance
All maintenance activities planned to prevent breakdowns and extend the life of the building's equipment and components.
🔠 O
Authorized professional orders
Professionals authorized by Act 16 to carry out mandatory studies: Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ), Ordre des architectes du Québec (OAQ), Ordre des technologues professionnels du Québec (OTPQ), Ordre des évaluateurs agréés du Québec (OEAQ).
🔠 P
Common areas
Portions of the building belonging to all co-owners: structure, roof, foundations, corridors, elevators, mechanical systems, common outdoor spaces.
Common areas with restricted use
Common areas reserved for the exclusive use of certain co-owners (balconies, parking spaces, private gardens) but remaining common property.
Private areas
Portions of the building belonging exclusively to a co-owner: apartment, private parking space (according to the declaration), individual cellar or storage room.
Asset management plan
A comprehensive management approach that integrates the building condition certificate, maintenance log, and contingency fund study to optimize the preservation and value of the building.
Minutes
Official document that accurately records the discussions, decisions, and votes taken at co-owners' meetings or board of directors' meetings.
🔠 Q
Share
Percentage of ownership of each co-owner in the common areas, determined according to the relative value of their fraction. Used as the basis for calculating common charges and voting rights.
🔠 R
Condominium registry
All documents that the syndicate must keep up to date and make available to co-owners: declaration of co-ownership, minutes, contracts, maintenance log, financial statements, etc.
Building regulations
Part of the declaration of co-ownership that establishes the rules of communal living: use of private and common areas, restrictions, obligations of co-owners and occupants.
Major repair
Significant and exceptional work on a significant part of the building, financed by the contingency fund. Differs from routine maintenance in its scale and rare frequency.
Reserve for studies
Amount budgeted to finance mandatory professional studies (maintenance log, contingency fund) and technical expertise necessary for proper management.
🔠 S
Société d'habitation du Québec (SHQ)
Government agency responsible for enforcing housing policies in Quebec, including overseeing the implementation of Bill 16.
Co-ownership syndicate
Legal entity automatically formed when a divided co-ownership is created. Responsible for building administration, fund management, and enforcement of laws and regulations.
🔠 T
Apportionment table
Document appended to the declaration of co-ownership that indicates for each fraction: its relative value, its share of the common areas, and sometimes special apportionments for certain charges.
🔠 U
Co-ownership unit
Term often used to refer to a fraction of co-ownership, comprising the private portion (apartment) and the corresponding share of the common areas.
🔠 V
Reconstruction value
Estimated cost of rebuilding the building from scratch under current conditions. Used as a basis for determining insurance coverage and, according to Act 16, as a temporary reference for calculating the contingency fund.
Relative value of fractions
Percentage assigned to each fraction in the declaration of co-ownership, determining voting rights, the distribution of common expenses, and the share of common areas.
📋 Resources and legal references
Main applicable laws:
Civil Code of Québec - Articles 1038 to 1109 (divided co-ownership)
Bill 16 - Modernization of co-ownership (2025)
Bill 141 - Co-ownership insurance reform (2020)
Reference organizations:
Société d'habitation du Québec (SHQ) - Official information
Regroupement des gestionnaires et copropriétaires du Québec (RGCQ) - Training and resources
Association des syndicats de copropriété du Québec (ASCQ) - Representation and support
How to use this glossary
This glossary is designed to be your comprehensive reference guide to co-ownership in Quebec. Whether you are:
A new co-owner: Consult the basic terms (A, C, F, P, S)
An administrator: Focus on legal obligations (L, E, R)
A professional: Refer to technical and legal aspects
Update: This glossary is regularly updated to reflect legislative and regulatory changes in Quebec.
For personalized advice on your condominium's compliance with Quebec laws, consult the experts at Borée Professional Services.