The Pros & Cons of Joining Your Strata Council
Last month we looked at the benefits of owning a condomium/strata titled home and what your condo/strata fee covers. We were discussing this further and someone asked “what about joining the strata council?” This is a great question we get asked quite regularily. The strata council or condominium corporation board is the volunteer group of homeowners charged with managing the building and property management company. Wether or not you should join the council is a tough question because it really is a personal choice. However, being a member of the strata council allows you, as an owner, to know what’s going on in your building, as if it were your own single family home. You would know about the maintenance needs, costs and how to better manage the budget to ensure the building is properly maintained for the long-term property value of your home.
What are the pros and cons of being a member of the strata council? Have a look through a few of the benefits and drawbacks listed below to help you decide if being on council is the right choice for you.
PROS
- Thorough knowledge of the building functioning and costs of maintaining in both the short and long-term
- Ability to have direct engagement in building issues, discussions and solutions
- Affords some control over the investment you have in your home/building allowing you to maintaining the overall value
- Monitor if the property manager is doing an effective job within the budget
- Increased pride in ownership of the building
- An opportunity to get to know your neighbours better
CONS
- It does take time
- Some neighbours feel you are available 100% of the time and will to try address their “issue” at your front door or in the hallway or elevator
- Dealing with uninformed residents
Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before you volunteer for your strata council:
- Do I have the time?
Being on council takes time for meetings and necessary tasks - Am I wanting to join in order to push a personal agenda?
While having a personal issue is not a bad reason to join council it cannot be the driving reason for joining. In fact, if you do have a personal agenda the strata council may not be the best place for you as this position requires a focus on the overall building and the needs of all residents. - How proactive am I?
Joining the strata council is about thinking ahead in the best interests of the building. It’s about looking forward and making the tough decisions on how money should be allocated, evenly and fairly, and in an appropriate manner.
At the end of the day, the key question you should ask yourself is “Are my abilities going to help the strata or hinder it?” You will be especially helpful if you can bring core skills to the strata such as accounting, gardening, project management or construction. If you truly believe you are able to help the strata function more smoothly for the long-term benefit of the building then you have your answer.
