The Condominium Authority of Ontario hosted a webinar on Oct. 22 featuring a walkthrough of the new Condominium Authority Tribunal platform and answers to participants’ insightful questions about resolving condo disputes.
The session demonstrated how to file an application, notify other parties and work toward a settlement through the platform. The discussion also explored which disputes the Tribunal can resolve, the CAO’s role in supporting condo communities, support for self-represented parties, and questions about deadlines, costs and upcoming changes to the Tribunal’s jurisdiction.
Missed the session? Find the recording and FAQs below!
1. Can the CAO or Tribunal investigate boards, audit their decisions or address misconduct?
The CAO does not have authority to investigate individual condo corporations or discipline directors. Its role is to support the self-governance of condominiums in Ontario by providing support so boards and owners can understand their rights and meet their obligations.
The Tribunal resolves specific disputes within its jurisdiction, which do not include board conduct, financial management or corporation operations.
If you believe the CAO’s mandate or CAT’s jurisdiction should change so one or both can have a more active role in overseeing condo governance, please send your feedback to the Minister Stephen Crawford or the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement.
2. What disputes can the Tribunal resolve? Can it hear shared-facilities, repair or maintenance disputes?
The CAT has jurisdiction to resolve issues relating to condo records, nuisances, governing documents and compliance with settlements from previous CAT cases. Here’s some common scenarios for each:
Condo records
- You requested records and your corporation did not respond
- You believe you are entitled to a record that your corporation has refused you
- You disagree with how much you’re being charged to gain access to a record
- You believe your condo is keeping inadequate records
- You believe your condo is not keeping certain records, or is not keeping them long enough
Noise, vibration, smoke, vapour, light, odour
- Another resident is causing one of the above nuisances
- The condo corporation is causing one of the above nuisances
- The corporation is not adequately addressing one of these nuisances
How your condo’s governing documents deal with pets, vehicles, parking, storage or other nuisances, such as harassment
- Another resident is not complying with the governing documents
- The condo is not enforcing the documents
- The documents are unreasonable
- The documents are inconsistent with each other or the Condo Act
- Your condo didn’t make, amend or repeal the governing documents properly
Compliance with previous Tribunal settlement agreements
The CAT cannot deal with any issue that is likely to cause injury, illness or damage to the condo corporation’s property.
3. How should owners and boards address smoking, disruptive neighbours or rules that are not being enforced?
Start by identifying the issue, reviewing the applicable governing documents and documenting what happened. Raise the concern with the board or manager and work toward a practical solution before escalating.
For smoking complaints, the CAO provides tailored steps for owners, boards and managers, including situations where the board is not responding. Persistent smoke or vapour that unreasonably interferes with condo living may fall within the Tribunal’s jurisdiction, even without a specific no-smoking rule.
Harassment disputes qualify only in certain circumstances, including where relevant governing-document provisions exist. Conduct likely to cause illness or injury falls outside the Tribunal’s jurisdiction.
4. What does a CAT case cost, and can parties recover expenses or charge back legal fees?
The Tribunal charges $25 to file, $50 to move to mediation and $125 to move to adjudication—a total of $200 if the case proceeds through all three stages.
Reimbursement of legal fees and other expenses is not automatic. The Tribunal considers factors such as the parties’ conduct, attempts to resolve the dispute, and whether expenses were reasonable and supported by documentation.
Compliance-related chargebacks are a separate issue. Corporations must obtain permission from a court or Tribunal before charging owners compliance-related costs, including legal letters. A warning letter or governing-document provision does not remove that requirement.
5. Do parties need lawyers? Can managers represent corporations, and what support is available?
Owners can represent themselves. Parties may also use a licensed lawyer or paralegal, or someone who meets an applicable exemption from Law Society licensing requirements.
For cases beginning on or after Oct. 1, 2026, managers can represent corporations only if they are licensed lawyers or paralegals, or qualify for another Law Society exemption. Managers can still provide administrative support. Earlier cases remain subject to the old rules.
Tribunal Members can help parties understand the process and what is required of them. The CAO also offers a Guide for Self-Represented Parties. People facing accessibility barriers should contact the Tribunal to discuss accommodation.
6. What if a party needs more time to meet the Tribunal’s deadlines?
Parties needing an adjournment or delay in mediation or adjudication should request it from the assigned Tribunal Member in advance. The online process allows participation at different times, while requiring parties to meet deadlines.
7. Why do apparently similar cases have different outcomes? Does the Tribunal follow precedent?
Superficially similar disputes can produce different outcomes because the governing documents, evidence and circumstances differ.Earlier Tribunal decisions guide subsequent decisions but are not binding in the same way as court decisions. Members are expected to explain their reasoning, including relevant differences from earlier cases. Published decisions can be searched through the CAO’s decisions and orders page.
8. Can the public observe hearings or read the decisions?
Cases happen asynchronously, meaning that they take place online in a platform where parties post messages at times convenient for them while meeting Tribunal deadlines. Members of the public cannot join an online case to observe it. Public access is provided through published decisions and orders, and requests for adjudicative records, subject to confidentiality restrictions. Settlement agreements and settlement discussions are generally confidential.
9. Why might a paper notice be required after an email notification? Is registered mail necessary?
If a party joins using the system’s email invitation, they are considered notified. If they do not join, or no email address was provided, the applicant must deliver a paper Notice of Case. The CAT Rules of Practice specify what the CAT considers as delivered when it comes to mailed Notices, rendering registered mail not strictly required. Applicants should follow the delivery instructions and keep evidence of delivery.
10. What happens if someone files a false claim or abuses the process?
The Tribunal can dismiss cases involving abuse of process, improper purposes or information the applicant knew—or should have known—was false or misleading. It can also impose conditions on future applications or participation. An unsuccessful application alone does not establish abuse of process.
11. What happens if someone does not follow a settlement agreement or Tribunal order?
The enforcement route depends on the document:
- Settlement agreement: A party can file a new Tribunal application alleging non-compliance. It must be filed within six months of the failure to comply.
- Decision or consent order: These are binding and can be enforced through the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
Whether a settlement prevents later claims depends on its wording and scope. Parties should clearly identify the issues being resolved and any release terms before agreeing.