What is the Condominium Authority Tribunal?
The CAT is Ontario’s first fully online tribunal and is operated by the CAO. It provides quick and cost-effective dispute resolution services for condo-living issues within its jurisdiction through a three stage dispute resolution process of Negotiation, Mediation and Adjudication. Condo owners and corporations can choose to represent themselves at our Tribunal to save on legal costs. The CAT mediates and adjudicates its decisions through a team of Members appointed by the CAT Chair, who is in turn appointed by the CAO’s Board of Directors.
What is the Condominium Authority Tribunal’s jurisdiction?
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.
Can the Condominium Authority Tribunal deal with cases about chargebacks?
It depends. We can resolve disputes related to chargebacks about issues already within our jurisdiction, but not anything additional.
For example, the CAT does not have jurisdiction over repair and maintenance issues, so any chargeback dispute relating to owners failing to repair their unit or common elements cannot be dealt with at the Tribunal.
The CAT has jurisdiction over how parking is governed, so issues related to charges about parking enforcement, damages or compensation in the condo can be resolved at the Tribunal. A real-life example of this would be a condo owner being charged back costs by a condo corporation for having to tow their vehicle and writing them a legal letter asking them not to park at a specific spot. The owner could dispute these charges at the CAT either for being unreasonable or unwarranted.
Can I represent myself in a CAT case?
Yes, CAT parties may self-represent, same as any tribunal or court. Our Guide for Self-Represented Parties explains the benefits, steps and responsibilities to help you do this.
How long will it take to resolve my CAT case?
The CAT process has three stages, which are part of six total steps. The timeline varies depending on the case and the stages involved.
Here’s an estimated timeline:
- Filing an application – 1 to 3 days
- Delivering notices – 1 week
- Stage 1 Negotiation – 1 to 2 weeks
- Stage 2 Mediation – 2 to 4 weeks
- Stage 3 Adjudication – 1 to 2 months
- Case closure – within 30 days
How much will it cost to file a CAT case?
The CAT’s three-stage case process costs a total of $200:
- $25 for Stage 1 – Negotiation
- $50 for Stage 2 – Mediation
- $125 for Stage 3 – Adjudication
There may be additional legal fees that parties will need to be aware of if they decide to hire a lawyer. You may also be responsible at the conclusion of your case for paying the other party partial costs or damages, depending on the outcome of the case.
Who can file a CAT case?
Only unit owners, mortgagees and condo corporations can file a CAT case application. Tenants experiencing issues within the CAT’s jurisdiction should work with their landlord to file a case.
Who can I file a CAT case against?
A unit owner or mortgagee can file a case against any combination of:
- One or more other unit owners
- One or more occupants of a unit
- Their condo corporation
A condo corporation can file a case against any combination of:
- One or more unit owners
- One or more occupants of a unit
A CAT case cannot be filed against:
- A condo manager
- Another condo corporation
- Any other outside party
Check out our Guide to Respondents and Intervenors for more information.
How do I file a CAT case?
Login to your CAO account, click Access Tribunal and then File an Application. You should familiarize yourself with the process for filing a CAT case application beforehand.
Our guide has more information.
How do I join a CAT case?
You can accept an invite to join a case through the CAT’s online dispute resolution system, by creating a CAO profile. Our Guide for Joining a CAT Case and Guide to Respondents and Intervenors provide additional information.
How do I deliver a CAT notice?
Follow these instructions to learn about the steps involved in delivering a CAT case notice. You can also check out our Guide for Delivering CAT Notices.
I have questions about my active Tribunal case
Email [email protected] or the Information Tribunal Analyst assigned to your case.