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Small co-ownerships

All our resources in one place

Petites copropriétés

Although small condominiums account for an overwhelming majority of the condominium housing stock—it's estimated that over 90% of condominium buildings in Quebec have fewer than 21 units—very few resources are specifically dedicated to them, and existing legislation and regulations do not take their realities into account.

These findings, however, are not surprising, as very few specialists and professionals focus on these small condominiums.

But those who choose to give them attention have the full support of the RGCQ! That's why we actively participated in a study conducted by two researchers from ESG-UQAM on the governance of small condominiums. Feel free to browse this page to learn more about this fascinating research and its conclusions.

Take advantage of the resources we’ve made available to you now.

A Snapshot of Small Condominiums at the RGCQ

  • Years of Construction

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    Years of Construction

    As we can see, our small condominiums are no longer spring chickens! Nearly half are over 20 years old, and there are even around thirty that are over a century old!

    Like the overall condominium housing stock in Quebec, our small and medium-sized condominiums require maintenance, and many need to consider undertaking major work: roof repairs, window replacements, and more.


  • Breakdown by Chapters

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    Breakdown by Chapters

    The distribution of our small and medium-sized condominiums among the different chapters of the RGCQ reflects the composition of our overall membership and, more broadly, the distribution of condominiums across the province: the vast majority are located in the Montreal region.

    However, a significant number of these condominiums can also be found in the Capitale-Nationale and Outaouais regions.


  • Number of Units

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    Number of Units

    It’s challenging to settle on a uniform definition of what constitutes a small condominium. Should the threshold be set at 5, 10, or even 24 units?

    At the RGCQ, we’ve chosen to define small and medium-sized condominiums as those with up to 24 units.

    Our findings are clear, though: 50% of these condominiums have fewer than 10 units!

    Regardless of their size, whether small or medium, these condominiums face significant challenges, and we’re here to support them.


  • Self-management

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    Self-management

    The results are clear: small and medium-sized condominiums that rely on a professional manager are extremely rare.

    This means that almost all of these condominium boards handle all management tasks on their own!

    Educating, informing, and supporting the board members of these small and medium-sized condominiums is the mission the RGCQ has set for itself.


The Governance of Small Condominiums

(In French with subtitles available)

The very first international study on the governance of small divided condominiums was conducted right here in Quebec by researchers from the School of Management at the University of Quebec in Montreal (ESG-UQAM) — made possible with the participation of RGCQ members.

The survey data collected from 325 owners of small divided condominiums, all members of the RGCQ, address a crucial question that impacts their daily lives:

DOES THE APPLICATION OF THE CURRENT GOVERNANCE MODEL FOR CONDOMINIUMS POSE A GREATER PERSONAL AND FINANCIAL RISK FOR OWNERS OF SMALL CONDOMINIUMS?

Without a doubt: "YES!"

The study by Renault and Coulombe demonstrates that it’s not the architectural features or disparities between units that make an acquisition more or less risky; it’s the competence of the board of directors, which ultimately depends on the integrity and ethics of its members.

The findings are clear: only the governance of the board of directors influences the problems and risks faced by the condominium.

These issues align with the key responsibilities of a condominium board, namely:

  • The conservation and preservation of the building;
  • Ensuring compliance with the declaration of co-ownership;
  • Maintaining a good quality of life within the condominium.

Explore the Study... and Much More!

This study was published in Condoliaison, the reference publication on condominiums in Quebec.

You can browse the full report using the interactive document here →

Read the Researcher Profiles to learn more about Micheline Renaud, MBA, CPA, and Patrick Coulombe, Ph.D., the authors of this study.

Discover many other fascinating articles in previous issues of Condoliaison!

Discover the Magazine

Explore our Resources

Activities and Training Sessions

  • Desjardins Training

    The RGCQ has developed an exclusive training program for syndicates of co-ownership, Desjardins members.

    Desjardins Training

  • The Governance of Small Condominiums

    October 12 2023

    Webinar

    Available for On-Demand Viewing (in French only for now)

    Learn More

  • Small Condominiums: Management and Specificities

    November 17 2022

    Webinar

    Available for On-Demand Viewing

    Learn More

  • Small Condominiums – Unique Challenges

    20 octobre 2020

    Symposium

    Available for On-Demand Viewing (French only)

    Learn More

  • Explore All Our Activities and Training Programs

    In-Person or Online

    Activities and training

Tailored Services

  • The Documentation Center

    The RGCQ offers its members exclusive Educondo guides, reference documents, cheat sheets, and practical tools.

    Browse the Documentation

  • Your Assembly

    Available Soon

    The web solution for comprehensive general assembly management

    Your Assembly

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