BC strata management FAQ: switching firms, votes, and fees.
Quick answers to what councils actually ask. If yours isn't here, write the Strata Match team and we'll add it.
How does Strata Match make money if councils don't pay?
Councils pay nothing, ever. Firms pay nothing to be matched or introduced either — there's no fee tied to a match, and no firm can pay for a better match. Full model on the methodology page.
Is Strata Match owned by a management company?
No. Strata Match is operated by Local Pixel Inc., a BC company with no management-industry ownership. No firm on the site has a stake in it.
Why only British Columbia?
BC has its own statute (the Strata Property Act), its own regulator (BCFSA), and about 35,000 strata corporations. A tool that flattens BC, Ontario, and Alberta ends up useless in all three.
How accurate is the fee calculator?
It returns a range, not a single number, because BC has no public fee survey. Use it to decide whether to investigate your current fee, not as a verdict.
How does Strata Match pick which firms to match me with?
We score BC firms on six criteria — size, geography, capacity, portfolio type, reputation, and issue fit — and send a preliminary shortlist of two or three. You choose who to pursue; we confirm availability before any introduction.
What if I never hear back?
Shouldn't happen. If a business day passes with no reply, email hello@stratamatch.ca and we'll find your request.
Scorecard or calculator — what's the difference?
The calculator tells you if your fee is in range. The scorecard tells you if the service is doing the job. Most councils run both.
How many votes to switch management firms in BC?
To cancel a strata management contract mid-term, the Strata Property Act (s.39) requires a 3/4 vote at a general meeting plus two months' written notice. Only owners vote; tenants don't (unless a landlord assigns the vote under s.147–148).
Can a strata fire its firm mid-contract?
Yes. The s.39 3/4-vote-plus-two-months-notice route works regardless of the contract's stated term.
Can the firm charge an early-termination penalty?
It depends on the contract, but the statutory s.39 cancellation right can't be contracted away. Read the termination clause before you sign, and check it against our contract checklist.
How long does a transition take?
Eight to ten weeks end to end: two to shortlist, two to sign, up to four for records handoff, then the first onboarding month.
What do councils pay per unit?
Roughly $35–$60/unit under 50 units, $25–$40 for 50–100, $15–$30 above 100. Smaller buildings pay more per unit because of monthly minimums.
What if our strata has no management company?
Self-managing is legal and common for small buildings. If you're deciding whether to hire out, start with the small-building survival kit and the self-managed-vs-professional calculator.
The old firm won't return our records.
How do I file a complaint?
About the firm's conduct or licensing → BCFSA. About a strata decision, records access, or unfairness → the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT), which handles most strata claims with no monetary cap.
Something here is wrong.
Email legal@stratamatch.ca with the URL and what's off. Corrections get posted with a date, not silently edited.
How do I reach a real person?
Email hello@stratamatch.ca. A person reads every message, usually within one business day. No ticket queue, no chatbot.
Still stuck? A question here is only as current as the last edit to this page. If what you got doesn't match what your council is seeing, assume the ground — then write us.
Get matched with two or three BC firms.
Tell us about your building and we score BC firms on six criteria, then hand you two or three to approve. Free to councils.