Strata property manager licensing

The Province of British Columbia requires all strata managers in B.C. to be licensed.

Learn more on this page:
BCFSA's role in licensing
Exemptions from licensing
The legal relationship

BCFSA's role in licensing

The BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) is responsible for the licensing, education and discipline of real estate service providers, including strata managers and strata management companies (brokerages), under the authority of the Real Estate Services Act (RESA) and the associated Rules.   

Under the Real Estate Services Act (RESA), a strata property management company must be a licensed brokerage. The brokerage providing strata property management services can be a company, partnership or sole proprietorship.

Every company must have a managing broker who is responsible for the activities of the company and who supervises individual strata managers and other employees.  

A strata manager provides services to the strata corporation on behalf of the brokerage (i.e. the strata management company). In addition to licensed strata property managers, the company may also have other employees such as clerks, accountants or other staff providing services to the strata corporation.  

Under the RESA Rules, BCSFA also sets out certain requirements for strata management companies to follow including: record keeping, providing services to sections, and establishing separate trust funds for separate strata corporations and sections.

In addition to the duties imposed on an agent by common law, RESA and the BCFSA Rules establish a code of conduct for licensed strata manager and managing brokers.

BCFSA enforces entry qualifications, investigates complaints against licensees for possible contraventions of the Real Estate Services Act and the Rules and imposes disciplinary sanctions under the Real Estate Services Act. Disciplinary actions are posted by BCFSA.

• Find out more about giving direction and resolving concerns with a strata manager or strata property management company.
• Find out more about resolving disputes in a strata corporation.

Exemptions from licensing

There are some exemptions from the licensing requirement for strata managers. For example, strata lot owners in a self-managed strata corporation do not have to be licensed.  Others who may be eligible for exemption from licensing include caretakers/managers, strata lot owners employed by a strata corporation and Owner Developers who meet certain conditions. Find out more about exemptions from licensing.

The legal relationship 

An agency relationship exists between the strata corporation, or section, as the principal, and the strata management company (i.e., brokerage) as the agent. The strata management company and their licensees are legally obligated to protect and promote the interests of their principals (whether that is a section or a strata corporation) as they would their own. In April 2013, RECBC issued information bulletins clarifying the responsibilities of strata management companies managing sections to acknowledge and protect these different interests.

References:
Strata Property Act, sections: 4, 10, 24, 30, 32, 33, 34.1, 37-39, 135, 144, 179, 194
Strata Property Regulations: 7.2, 8.2, 18.1
Real Estate Services Act and Rules
Standard Bylaws (which can be amended): 20 and 21

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Disclaimer: the information on the Province’s strata housing website is provided for the user’s convenience as a basic starting point; it is not a substitute for getting legal advice. Learn more about the site’s purpose and limits.

The content on this website is periodically reviewed and updated by the Province of British Columbia as per the date noted at the top of each page.