Condominium Home Owners Association

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CHOA represents the strata industry, and in this regard it's important to notice the difference between Owners' and Owners in CHOA's name, and to recognize the significance of that missing apostrophe.    

On or about September 1, 2021, CHOA stopped featuring its online admission to being "the largest association representing the strata industry in British Columbia"


and reverted to featuring this instead, "Leadership, Education and Resources for Strata Owners Across BC."


I would caution owners of strata property to be diligent in considering where that Leadership is taking them, how many times that Education conflicts with the SPA, and how those Resources may be "representing the strata industry" rather than the best interests of the owners who make up strata corporations. When I attend CHOA seminars, I try to take what is legitimate, say thank you, and leave the rest. 

I posted this because the first step in correcting any problem is to identify the source. From what I have seen, many, if not most, strata disputes flow from the top down. Particularly the most serious ones.

Unfortunately, strata lawyers and property managers both profit from add-ons and fees that they manufacture by churning up confusion and oppression in an inherent conflict of interest. All too often, professionals that strata councils hire betray their trust and contravene the law, unbeknowst to inexperienced volunteers who are relying on their advice.

Clark Wilson ("CW") is one of the most persistent offenders in this regard. A classic example of their contravention of Part 9 of the SPA and SPR is their MUCH repeated litigation producing advice that the “Owner arranges and pays for repairs to all damage to their strata lot regardless of cause of damage” despite the strata's duty to provide full replacement value insurance and cover the deductible as a common expense. 


In about 2021, after insurance companies started imposing deductibles as high as half a million dollars,  CHOA, Veronica Franco, and "the industy" that they represent starting backing off somewhat from years of making such brazen misrepresentations to the owners of strata property.

This is just one of many examples of manufactured strata strife flowing down from the top. 

Another example of Clark Wilson's MUCH repeated litigation producing perverse advice is that stratas should redact correspondence and delete anything delivered by email. Giving BC stratas to understand that the Personal Information and Privacy Act required such conduct produced perpetual contravention of mandatory document disclosure in violation of s. 18(1)(o) of PIPA and s.36 of the SPA. 

The predictable profit producing litigation arising from endless misrepresentations coming from the top down is all well and good for everyone in the industry, but it's devastating for homeowners and the public interest. Further to this, CHOA is all too often practicing law without a licence to the added detriment of many owners who rely in good faith on their advice. 

If you can come up with enough strength and endurance to pursue corrective action, then please do so for the good of all. Otherwise, just learn to recognize the wolves in sheep's clothing.

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