Read the Strata Documents Early
With a condo, you are buying into a strata corporation as well as a suite, and the documents matter as much as the view. When a condo you like comes on the market, ask for these as soon as you can:
- Form B Information Certificate: the strata fees, any special levies passed or proposed, the contingency reserve fund balance, parking and storage, and any rental or age restrictions.
- Minutes of council and general meetings for the past two years, which show leaks, disputes, insurance claims and repairs being discussed.
- The depreciation report and any engineering or building envelope reports.
- Bylaws and rules, the current budget and financial statements, and the strata insurance summary with its deductibles.
Our condo buying guide walks through each document and the red flags to look for.
Depreciation Reports Are Now Mandatory
BC strata corporations with five or more lots must now get a depreciation report every five years, and they can no longer skip it with an annual three-quarter vote. Existing stratas in the Capital Regional District without a recent report had until July 1, 2026 to get one. A current report, read alongside the reserve fund balance, shows whether big repairs are funded or likely to arrive as special levies. See our guide to depreciation reports.
Insurance, Rentals and Pets
Strata insurance deductibles in BC can be large, especially for water damage and earthquakes, and an owner may be charged the deductible for damage that starts in their unit. Make sure your own condo insurance covers it; our strata insurance guide explains how.
Since November 24, 2022, BC stratas cannot ban or limit long-term rentals, and the only age restriction allowed is 55 and over. Short-term rentals are another matter: provincial rules limit them to a host's principal residence in most of Greater Victoria, and many stratas ban them in their bylaws. Pet bylaws still vary widely, so check the limits on number, size and type before you write an offer.
Leasehold and Older Buildings
Some older Greater Victoria buildings are leasehold rather than freehold, which explains some surprisingly low asking prices. Leasehold condos can be harder to finance, and the three-day rescission period does not apply to them, so check the title and the remaining term before you get attached. Older concrete and wood-frame buildings may also be due for windows, plumbing, elevators or envelope work, which shows up in the depreciation report.
Just Listed Condos by Area
Downtown Victoria, James Bay, Harris Green and the Songhees have the most new condo listings in the core, from older low-rises to recent towers. Saanich adds condos around Uptown, the Gorge and Gordon Head, and Langford lists many newer suites close to Goldstream Avenue and Westhills. Sidney is popular with downsizers who want a walkable seaside town. Browse condos in Greater Victoria, Saanich, Langford, Esquimalt and Sidney.
Just Listed or Newly Built?
A just listed condo can be in a building of any age. For newly built condos with a home warranty, see new condos and the new developments list, and read our presale guide before buying off the plan.
