For the 1.5 million British Columbians who own, live in or work in strata units, resolving strata claims is easier and more convenient thanks to a justice system that is accessible, and where disputes are resolved earlier and out of court.

The Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) began accepting early strata claims in summer 2016 and will start taking small claims cases in spring 2017. While upholding the rule of law and natural justice, the CRT was created to make the resolution of strata and small claims disputes something that people could do when and where it is convenient for them. 

The innovative CRT gives British Columbians and businesses convenient and cost-effective ways to resolve disputes and legal issues online and out of court.

Before the CRT, owners and strata corporations with a dispute had to litigate in the Supreme Court of BC, where a half-day trial costs tens of thousands of dollars. This meant many strata disputes went unresolved. And while any legal dispute is stressful, unresolved strata disputes are particularly so because of ongoing relationships between neighbours.

Examples of the types of strata disputes the CRT deals with are:

• non-payment of monthly strata fees or fines
• unfair actions by the strata corporation or by people owning more than half of the strata lots in a complex
• unfair or random, enforcement of strata bylaws (such as noise, pets, parking, rentals)
• failure of a strata to enforce its bylaws
• issues of financial responsibility for repairs and the choice of bids for services
• irregularities in the way meetings, voting, recording of minutes, or other matters are done
• interpretation of the legislation, regulations, or bylaws issues regarding common property