Duties of a condo board of directors in Quebec
A Quebec condo board must administer the building with diligence and prudence, collect condo fees, maintain the reserve fund, hold annual meetings, and act in the collective interest of all owners. Failure to do so can expose individual directors to personal liability.
What are the legal duties of a condo board in Quebec?
The board of directors is the executive body of the condo board (syndicat). Its elected members must administer the building with the prudence and diligence of a reasonable person (Quebec Civil Code article 1085). This standard means making informed decisions, documenting deliberations, and acting in the best interest of all unit owners.
Personal liability: what board members need to know
Volunteer board members are generally not personally liable for the condo board's debts, but they can be held liable for serious faults: failure to pay CNESST contributions, ignoring safety rules that lead to an accident, or taking fraudulent decisions against owners' interests. Director civil liability is a reality many ignore.
Delegating for effective governance: when to hire a manager?
The board can delegate routine administration to a professional condo property manager without giving up governance. Delegation typically covers: accounting and fee collection, service contract management, contractor coordination, owner communications, and regulatory compliance. The board retains budget approval, strategic decisions, and the relationship with owners.