Buying & Due Diligence
Selling Your Condo: How to Request and Use a Status Certificate
Buyers rely on the certificate your corporation issues about your unit. Sellers should check a few things before it goes out.
Once an agreement to sell your unit becomes conditional, the buyer's lawyer or agent will typically request a status certificate directly from your corporation or property manager. What that certificate says about your account and your unit can affect how smoothly the sale goes.
Sellers rarely think to check their own standing before listing, but a surprise on the certificate can slow down or complicate a deal that otherwise looked simple.
What to check first
- 1Confirm your unit has no fees in arrears before listing.
- 2Request your own status certificate early to preview what a buyer will see.
- 3Resolve any outstanding violation or compliance notices beforehand.
- 4Gather your own copies of recent AGM and reserve fund packages to share informally with buyers.
- 5Confirm your parking and locker assignments match the corporation's records.
- 6Disclose any known pending special assessment to your agent early.
- 7Build the statutory response window into your closing timeline expectations.
Common mistakes owners make
- Listing before confirming your own account is in good standing.
- Being surprised by an old, unresolved violation letter appearing on the certificate.
- Not knowing about a pending special assessment before an offer arrives.
- Assuming the certificate process is instant rather than building in the response window.
- Forgetting to account for the certificate fee in your closing costs.
Documents to gather
- Your most recent fee statement
- Any violation or compliance notices you've received
- Prior status certificates from your own purchase, for comparison
- Insurance certificates for any unit improvements
- Board correspondence about your unit, if any
- Parking and locker documentation
When to get a closer look
- You have an outstanding compliance notice you don't fully understand.
- There's a dispute about the arrears amount showing on your account.
- The buyer's lawyer is raising questions about something disclosed in the certificate.
- You're unsure what a pending special assessment means for your asking price.
Not sure if this needs your attention?
Run your notice through the Free Notice Decoder. It is free, and it helps you see whether this is worth a closer look before you act.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
Do I request the status certificate myself as the seller?
Typically the buyer or their representative requests it once the agreement is conditional, but nothing stops you from requesting your own copy in advance to check for surprises.
What if there's an error on my account?
Raise it with the property manager in writing as soon as you notice it. It's far easier to resolve a billing error before a buyer's lawyer sees it than to dispute it mid-transaction.
Does a pending special assessment have to be disclosed?
It will generally appear on the status certificate itself once approved or formally proposed, so buyers will see it regardless. Telling your agent early avoids surprises late in the deal.
How long does the certificate request add to a sale?
The corporation has a statutory response window, commonly discussed as 10 days, which is usually built into the conditional period of a resale agreement.
Who pays the status certificate fee?
This varies by agreement and local practice. Confirm with your agent who is expected to cover the request fee.
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This page is plain-language educational information for Ontario condo owners. It is not legal advice, not an engineering inspection or opinion, and not a substitute for advice about your specific situation from a licensed professional. Condo Owner Advocate helps you understand your situation. You decide what to do.