Buying a condo in Quebec: which documents and rules should you check in 2026?

The Règlement établissant diverses règles en matière de copropriété divise was published in the Gazette officielle du Québec on July 30, 2025 and came into force on August 14, 2025. It continues Bill 16 (2019) and Bill 31 (2024).

All divided co-ownership syndicates in Quebec must comply. Neither the board nor the owners’ meeting can opt out. Syndicates have 3 years and 1 day to have a log established and a first study produced.

The log, required by article 1070.2 of the Civil Code, includes a detailed inventory of common parts: materials, appliances and equipment. It also includes private-part items maintained by the syndicate.

A separate section describes major repairs and replacements over the next 25 years, with a year for each intervention. The log assesses condition and remaining useful life.

It also lists completed major repairs with dates and costs, and related documents such as plans, specifications and contracts.

The professional must belong to one of these Quebec orders: Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec, Ordre des évaluateurs agréés du Québec, Ordre des architectes du Québec, Ordre des technologues professionnels du Québec. They must work mainly in property management, construction, renovation, appraisal or inspection and have no direct connection to the condo: for example, they cannot be a board member, manager, owner or occupant.

The board must update the log at least once a year. It must be revised at least every 5 years, or every 10 years if the building has 8 or fewer private units, excluding parking and storage, if the common parts are not in a building, or if the building has at most 3 floors entirely above ground.

A site visit is done each time the log is established or revised.

The study is required by article 1071 of the Civil Code and is based on the log’s 25-year works. It recommends the fund balance at the start of each year and the amounts to contribute.

It must be produced every 5 years. The same professionals who can prepare the log may prepare the study, as may members of the Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec.

After the first study, the board has up to 30 days after the annual meeting to set contributions according to the study. If the fund is insufficient, it has up to 10 years to replenish it.

Once the documents are produced, the board has 60 days to make the log and study available to owners.

When an owner sells, article 1068.1 requires the syndicate to give the seller an attestation on the condition of the co-ownership within 15 days of the request. It must be dated and signed; the SHQ offers an optional template.

Mandatory financial information includes the current contingency fund amount and the amount that should be available this year according to the latest study, common-expense contributions requested and paid over the last 3 years, available cash, surpluses or deficits of the last 3 financial statements, and this year’s budget.

The attestation confirms mandatory insurance and gives the self-insurance fund amount and the highest deductible.

It summarizes inspections and expert reports from the last 5 years, known claims from the last 5 years, major repairs from the last 5 years with dates and costs, and major works planned over the next 10 years with estimated dates and costs. It also lists ongoing litigation and changes to the declaration of co-ownership over the last 3 years.

Deposits may be held in trust only by members of these orders: Barreau du Québec, Chambre des notaires du Québec, Ordre des administrateurs agréés du Québec, Ordre des comptables professionnels agréés du Québec.

Promoters must refund deposits if a condo is not delivered by the agreed date.