Before you buy a resale condo, the condo corporation can give you a certificate that sets out the unit’s fees and arrears and the corporation’s finances, rules and legal issues. Depending on the province it is called an estoppel certificate, a status certificate or an information certificate. CMHC’s condo buying guide describes it as a document showing whether the current owner “has defaulted in paying his or her common expenses and if there are any outstanding lawsuits against the corporation; depending on the jurisdiction, this is called either a “status certificate” or an “estoppel certificate.”” (CMHC). This page covers what each province calls it, what it shows and how to review it. It is part of our guide to property types in Canada; the rest of the purchase is covered in buying a condo in Canada.
What is an estoppel certificate?
“Estoppel” is a legal term: once the corporation has certified a fact to a buyer, it can’t later take a different position on it against a buyer or lender who relied on the certificate. That is what makes the certificate more useful than a seller’s own statement about fees or arrears.
What each province calls it
| Province | Document name | Legislation |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Status certificate | Condominium Act, 1998, s. 76 |
| Alberta | Estoppel certificate | Condominium Property Act, s. 43.2 |
| British Columbia | Information Certificate (Form B) | Strata Property Act, s. 59 |
| Quebec | Certificate of the syndicate on the condition of the building | Civil Code of Québec, art. 1068.1 |
| Manitoba | Status certificate | The Condominium Act, s. 61 |
| New Brunswick | Estoppel certificate | Condominium Property Act, s. 51 |
| Nova Scotia | Estoppel certificate | Condominium Act, s. 31A |
Each act sets its own deadline, fee and required contents, so what a certificate must include differs from province to province.
Ontario’s status certificate
In Ontario anyone can request a condo unit's status certificate, which sets out key information about the unit and the condo corporation; the corporation can charge up to $100, including taxes and materials, and must offer it at that price within 10 days (faster delivery can cost more). Buyers should review it with their lawyer. The full list of contents the Condominium Act requires, and what to check in each section, is on our page about the Ontario status certificate.
What the certificate usually covers
The exact contents depend on the province, but most certificates and the documents attached to them cover the items below.
About the unit
| Item | What it confirms |
|---|---|
| Current condo fee | The monthly common expenses for the unit |
| Arrears | Whether the owner owes unpaid fees |
| Special assessments | Any assessment levied or declared against the unit |
| Liens | Whether the corporation has registered a lien on the unit for unpaid amounts |
| Share of common expenses | The unit’s percentage of the corporation’s total expenses |
| Parking and locker | Whether they are owned units or exclusive-use common elements |
| Fee increases | Increases declared since the current budget |
About the corporation
| Item | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Reserve fund balance | How much is set aside for major repairs |
| Reserve fund study | The professional forecast of repair costs and the contributions needed |
| Financial statements | The last audited statements and the auditor’s report |
| Insurance | What the corporation’s policy covers and its deductibles |
| Current budget | Planned income and spending for the year |
| Declaration and by-laws | The building’s governing rules (pets, rentals, use of units) |
| Rules | Day-to-day rules (noise, barbecues, moving in and out) |
| Legal actions | Lawsuits and judgments involving the corporation |
| Management | Who manages the building |
Board meeting minutes aren’t always part of the certificate itself, but buyers often ask for them, since they show repairs and budget problems the board is discussing.
What to look for
Reserve fund
The useful test is whether the balance and planned contributions match what the reserve fund study says the building will need. A fund well short of the study’s plan points to higher fees or a special assessment later. How reserve funds, fee increases and special assessments work is covered in condo fees, reserve funds and special assessments.
| Reserve fund status | What it may mean |
|---|---|
| At or above the study’s plan | The building can pay for forecast repairs from the fund |
| Slightly short of the plan | Worth watching the next study and the fee trend |
| Well short of the plan | Fee increases or a special assessment are likely |
| No recent study | Nobody can tell whether the fund is adequate |
Special assessments
| Scenario | What it may mean |
|---|---|
| None levied or planned | No known one-time charges |
| A small assessment already levied | Common in older buildings; check what it paid for |
| A large assessment planned | A major repair the reserve fund can’t cover |
| Several recent assessments | A pattern of underfunding or poor planning |
Legal actions
| Type | What to check |
|---|---|
| Corporation suing a builder or contractor (for example over construction defects) | How the corporation is paying the legal costs |
| An owner suing the corporation | The claim and what it could cost owners |
| Several claims, or a class action | Potentially large costs shared by all owners |
| An insurance claim in progress | Whether the corporation can cover its deductible |
Condo fees compared with similar buildings
| Fees compared with similar buildings | What it may mean |
|---|---|
| Much lower | The reserve may be underfunded and fees may rise |
| About the same | Nothing unusual on its own |
| Much higher | An older building with more upkeep, or more amenities and staff |
How to review the certificate
Step 1: Request it
Your lawyer or buyer’s agent usually requests the certificate from the condo corporation or its manager once the seller accepts an offer that is conditional on reviewing it. In Ontario the corporation must offer it for up to $100 within 10 days; other provinces set their own fees and deadlines in the acts listed above.
Step 2: Have your lawyer review it
A real estate lawyer typically reviews:
- The reserve fund against the study’s recommendations
- The financial statements (deficits, arrears, unusual expenses)
- The insurance coverage and the deductibles owners could be charged
- The declaration, by-laws and rules (pets, rentals, smoking, renovations)
- Legal actions and judgments
- Board meeting minutes, if available
Step 3: Decide whether to go ahead
| What the review finds | Common next steps |
|---|---|
| No significant issues | Waive the condition and go ahead |
| Minor concerns (a small assessment, a by-law issue) | Discuss with your lawyer before waiving |
| Moderate concerns (a reserve short of plan, an assessment being considered) | Ask questions, or try to renegotiate the price |
| Major concerns (large litigation, a badly underfunded reserve, a large assessment) | Walk away before the condition deadline, if the offer allows it |
Costs a certificate can reveal
| Problem | How it reaches owners |
|---|---|
| Underfunded reserve | Higher fees until contributions catch up |
| Special assessment | A one-time charge split among owners |
| Major repair (elevators, parking garage, building envelope) | Paid from the reserve, by an assessment, or through higher fees |
| Lost lawsuit | Legal costs and damages paid from common expenses |
| Insurance deductible | Can be charged back to the owner of the unit where the damage started; condo insurance can cover it |
Common mistakes
- Not making the offer conditional on the certificate. In competitive markets some buyers waive the condition to make their offer stronger, and then have no way out if the certificate shows problems.
- Reading it without a lawyer. The financial statements and reserve study take experience to read.
- Skipping the reserve fund study. A low balance compared with the study’s plan is an early sign of higher fees.
- Not reading the by-laws and rules. A rule against pets or rentals is hard to change after closing.
- Not asking for meeting minutes. Board discussions about upcoming repairs or budget shortfalls often show up there first.
Key takeaways
- The estoppel, status or information certificate is the main way a condo buyer learns about the building’s finances, rules and lawsuits.
- The reserve fund compared with its study is the clearest sign of future fees and assessments.
- Special assessments can be large and sudden, and the certificate shows any that have been levied or declared.
- Making the offer conditional on a lawyer’s review keeps the option to walk away.
- The corporation is bound by what it certifies, as of the certificate’s date.
Sources
The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them between September 25, 2026 and September 29, 2026. How we check facts.
- Condominium Authority of Ontario: What is a status certificate and how much does it cost - Condominium Authority of Ontario
- Condominium Authority of Ontario: Reserve Funds and Reserve Fund Studies - Condo Authority
- Condominium Authority of Ontario: The Declaration - Condominium Authority of Ontario
- Tarion: What is the new home warranty | Tarion.com