Alterations

Alteration Application and related forms

PRIOR to making alterations to the building exterior, load-bearing structures of strata lot, limited common property or common property, owners must complete, sign and submit the forms below to Council AND receive APPROVAL from Council. Council will determine if there are any additional forms that need to be completed or information supplied, in order to complete their review of your application. If Council denies your application, reasons will be outlined in a written response.

Here are the forms required when submitting a request to make changes to your strata lot, limited common property and common property:

• LLE Alteration Application (Fillable PDF)
• Assumption of Liability Agreement (Fillable PDF)
• Strata Lot Plans A-1, A-2 (with and without decks), B-1, B-1 reverse and B-2, B-2 reverse (PDF) Use the lot plan that best matches your strata lot to show the location of your proposed alteration.
• Neighbour Notification Form (Fillable PDF) if the alteration will be visible to neighbours.

Note: Download fillable forms to your device prior to completing and/or printing them.

If given permission to make the requested change, owners must abide by the following:

• BC Strata Property Act
• LLE Bylaws
• LLE Rules
• LLE Policies
• LLE Aesthetic Standards

IMPORTANT

• Alterations that include significant changes will require a 75% approval vote at the next AGM or SGM prior to receiving signed approval.
• Alterations that change Common Property to Limited Common Property must be registered with the Land Titles Office. The owner is responsible for both registering the change with the Land Titles Office and the associated fees. The registered change then becomes part of the Information Certificate that is passed on to future owners.
• Some types of alterations, such as structural alterations, must be carried out by a professional contractor with a Commercial General Liability insurance policy with at least $2,000,000 coverage and continuing Products and Completed Operations coverage. Workers must also be covered by WorkSafeBC.
• The unit owner is responsible for the upkeep of the alteration as indicated in the Bylaws. When you sell your unit you must advise the purchaser of all alterations. If the purchaser does not want to assume responsibility for the alteration(s) then the seller must remove the alteration(s) and restore the Strata Lot and/or Common Property to its original appearance. The expense of restoration to its original appearance is paid by the seller.

 

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Definitions*

*The information below on strata housing is excerpted from the B.C. government website for the users’ convenience as a basic starting point; it is not a substitute for getting legal advice. 

Strata Plan

A strata plan designates the locations and boundaries of the different categories of property. Plans for VIS5801 are found on the Strata Plans page.

Strata Lot

A strata lot is owned individually by the owner(s) and is often referred to as a strata unit. In condominiums and townhouses, the strata lot usually ends at the center of the walls, floors and ceilings, but may have different boundaries, if shown on the strata plan.

The strata plan will contain a legend that explains how strata lots are noted on the strata plan; the legend on the sample strata plan below shows that strata lots are designated as “SL” with the strata lot number after it.

Common Property

Any part of the land and buildings shown on the strata plan that is not part of a strata lot is common property. For example, in a condominium, common property typically includes hallways, elevators, recreational amenities and building exteriors such as the roof. Also common roadways and in-ground services such as water and sanitation are often common property. In addition, pipes, wires, cables, chutes, ducts and other facilities for passage or provisions of water, sewage, gas, oil or other similar services may also be common property.

Common property is owned collectively by the strata lot owners, as tenants in common. Individual ownership is proportional to the strata lot’s unit entitlement as set out in the “Form V: Schedule of Unit Entitlement.”  The strata corporation exclusively controls the common property. Owners can use the common property except to the extent the Strata Property Act, the regulations, bylaws or rules restrict the use of common property.

To understand the areas designated as common property review the strata plan, and the general index for the strata corporation at the Land Title Office for any sketch plans and resolutions modifying the common property. The strata plan will contain a legend that designates the common property.

Common property can be changed into limited common property (LCP) or designated for the short term exclusive use of one or more particular strata lots.

Limited Common Property (LCP)

Limited common property (LCP) is common property that has been designated on the strata plan or on a sketch plan filed at the Land Title Office for the exclusive use of one or more strata lots. For example balconies and parking spaces may be designated as limited common property.

Limited common property is often designated on the strata plan as “LCP” with the strata lot number after it. The legend on the strata plan explains how the limited common property is noted.