Skip to content

Harassment

Step 4: Condominium Authority Tribunal

You may be able to file an application with the Tribunal if trying the previous steps did not work. Our Tribunal is intended to help condo communities resolve disputes conveniently, quickly and affordably. CAT cases are asynchronous and fully online.

Filing an application

Filing an application with the Tribunal is a serious matter. A Tribunal application is a legal action, and applicants are required to provide evidence and arguments to prove their case.

You should think carefully and build your case before filing an application. This includes identifying what outcome you want, how the law applies and how you can prove it. Use this worksheet to get started. 

Do I need legal representation?

No. The CAT allows parties to represent themselves. Read our Self-Represented Parties guide to understand if this is right for you.

Condo owners who don’t represent themselves can choose to be represented by a lawyer, paralegal, or other person listed in this by-law.

Condo corporations must be represented by one of their board directors, condo managers, lawyers or a paralegal.

Public access

The Tribunal is guided by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom’s open court principle and is committed to transparency. This principle requires that the CAT provide public access to some adjudicative records to those who request them. This includes details of an application, including documents submitted within that application, with some exceptions. The CAO’s Access and Privacy Policy provides a full list of the types of adjudicative records that will be provided on request, which includes a copy of the application, any documents required to be provided when the application was filed and any evidence or submissions made during the hearing. 

All of the Tribunal’s decisions and non-procedural orders will also be made available online on the CAO’s website and CanLII. 

Condo corporations may also be required to disclose the existence and status of Tribunal applications in information certificates and in status certificates. 

Settlement offers and any settlement-related messages will remain private and confidential.

Read our Practice Direction on Confidentiality for more information.

Who can file an application?

Only condo owners, mortgagees and condo corporations can file CAT cases. Tenants or occupants must speak to their landlord or the condo corporation to resolve their issue, usually by having the landlord or the corporation file a case.

The CAT’s three-stage dispute resolution process

Stage 1: Negotiation


In Stage 1: Negotiation, you will work with the other parties to try and resolve the dispute.

Stage 2: Mediation


In Stage 2: Mediation, you will work with a mediator to try and resolve the dispute.

Stage 3: Tribunal Decision


In Stage 3: Tribunal Decision, the Tribunal will hold an online hearing, and you will have an opportunity to present your evidence and arguments. The Member will then issue a binding order.

Filing timelines

The Tribunal can deal with issues that occurred within the last two years. The Tribunal can extend this timeline to three years if it wouldn’t be unfair to the other parties, but extensions are not guaranteed.

The CAT’s harassment jurisdiction

Not every kind of harassment dispute can be resolved at the CAT.

Two conditions must be met for the CAT to have jurisdiction:

Your condo must have anti-harassment provisions in its declaration, by-laws or rules.

The harassment in question must not be so severe as to be likely to cause injury, illness or damage to the condo’s property. These situations are best left to the police or the courts.

Learn more about the Tribunal’s process and its jurisdiction:

The CAO offers free anti-harassment rule sample to help condo establish anti-harassment provisions in their governing documents.

Next steps

1. Review past Tribunal decisions


Previous orders and decisions provide insight into how the Tribunal deals with issues similar to yours.

Read decisions about harassment

2. Decide if you should seek legal advice


Our legal resources page has information for those seeking legal support.

Get help with legal advice

3. File your application


Ready to file?

Start here

Did you find this page helpful?