Recent Amendments To The Strata Property Act Come Into force

On July 28, 2016, amendments to the Strata Property Act (the "Act") included in the Natural Gas Development Statutes Amendment Act, 2015 came into force, revising the requirements under the Act for authorizing the winding up of a strata corporation and cancellation of a strata plan.  These changes create new opportunities for the redevelopment of aging strata housing stock in British Columbia.

The amendments to the Act lower the voting threshold to approve the voluntary winding up of a strata corporation and cancelation of a strata plan from a unanimous vote of all members of the strata corporation to 80 percent of eligible strata corporation voters (not just those who show up to a meeting).  New procedural provisions require that once a resolution authorizing a strata's termination is approved by at least 80 percent of eligible strata corporation voters, strata corporations with five units or more must apply to the BC Supreme Court to approve the winding up and