Since August 14, 2025, the regulation implementing Bill 16 has concretely governed the management of divided co-ownerships (condominiums) in Quebec. Every syndicate must now keep a maintenance logbook, have a contingency fund study carried out, and issue a certificate when a unit is sold. Existing co-ownerships have a three year window, until August 15, 2028, to comply. Waiting until the last minute means taking an avoidable financial risk: without a rigorous study, an unexpected special assessment can land on the co-owners at the worst possible time.
What Bill 16 actually requires
Bill 16 has a simple goal: that every co-ownership knows the real condition of its building and sets aside enough money to maintain it without nasty surprises. Three obligations follow.
The maintenance logbook. It is the technical memory of the building: an inventory of components, a history of the work done, a preventive maintenance schedule. It serves as the basis for the contingency fund study and is revised over time. A well kept logbook turns reactive management, where you fix things when they break, into planned management, where you anticipate.
The contingency fund study. It projects the condition and remaining useful life of each system over a twenty five to thirty year horizon, then quantifies the upcoming work and the level of contributions required. It is updated every five years. This is the heart of the framework: without it, the contribution amount is left to chance.
The syndicate certificate. When a unit is sold, the syndicate provides an up to date picture of the situation. A well informed buyer will read it carefully, because it reveals the financial health of the collective they are about to join.
The full rules are set out on the Government of Quebec website.
Key dates to remember
The regulation came into force on August 14, 2025. Co-ownerships already controlled by the co-owners benefit from a three year period to comply, until August 15, 2028. Three years may seem far off, but a serious study requires a site visit, an analysis and a written report, and competent providers fill up as the deadline approaches. Starting early costs less and avoids the last minute rush.
Why a rigorous study changes everything
A technical deficiency is not just a brick or membrane problem: it is a deferred cost waiting for its moment. A roof at the end of its life, tired masonry, aging mechanical systems, all of these have a finite useful life. Reading that remaining useful life turns a list of findings into a schedule of financial decisions: how much, by when, at what contribution level.
The issue many syndicates underestimate is the unexpected special assessment. When the reserve is insufficient and a major item comes due, such as a roof replacement, the bill is split among the co-owners all at once. A study grounded in the real condition of the building spreads these costs over time and protects the collective’s cash flow.
There is also an angle that is often forgotten: financing. A documented building with an adequate reserve reassures lenders and insurers. Conversely, a reserve shortfall or an incomplete technical file is paid for in financing terms at the time of a refinancing or a convention renewal.
Condominium or housing cooperative: two regimes, one need
Bill 16 governs divided co-ownership syndicates. A housing cooperative is a distinct legal structure and is not subject to it. The need, however, is identical: knowing the real condition of the buildings, anticipating the work and planning capital contributions. For a cooperative, the building health assessment plays the same role as a contingency fund study for a syndicate, with an almost identical deliverable, useful for planning or supporting a financing request.
How Boreon approaches the mandate
Our approach starts from building science and leads to usable figures. We inspect the components, assess their remaining useful life, project the work and the costs, then recommend a contribution level that holds up in a general meeting. The deliverable is clear, prioritized and presentable to co-owners and cooperative members alike.
Our analysis covers the technical condition and its financial impact. It is not a market value appraisal, an act reserved for chartered appraisers. It complements one without replacing it. For buildings where the roof or the envelope weigh heavily on the budget, we document with thermography when needed, and you will find examples of common defects in our common problems section.
For a commercial, institutional or mixed use building, the same logic applies at a larger scale with the building condition assessment (BCA).
Where to start
The path is simple: have the maintenance logbook prepared or updated, order the contingency fund study on that basis, then adjust the contributions according to the results. The earlier you start, the more you spread the effort and the more you keep control of the schedule.
Do you administer a syndicate or manage a condominium? Let us talk about your timeline and your building. See our contingency fund study and maintenance logbook service, or request a quote.
