How to Get a Status Certificate Ontario Guide with Cost and Timelines Explained

If you’re buying a condo in Ontario, chances are the term status certificate has come up, maybe during a conversation with your agent, your lawyer, or in the listing details. But unless you’ve dealt with it before, it’s not always obvious what it is, how to get one, or why it matters.

A status certificate is more than just paperwork. It outlines the financial and legal standing of the condo corporation and gives you insight into what you’re really buying into. If there are major repair fees coming up, reserve fund issues, or even lawsuits tied to the building, this document is where you’ll find out.

Getting a status certificate isn’t difficult, but there’s a process. You need to know who to ask, what it costs, and how long it takes. More importantly, once you have it, it should be reviewed carefully, ideally by a real estate lawyer who knows what to look for.

We’ll break down how the status certificate Ontario process works, what you’ll pay, and how long it usually takes. More importantly, we’ll show you where a real estate lawyer fits in, especially when it comes to spotting issues that could cost you later.

What Is a Status Certificate in Ontario?

If you’re looking at buying a resale condo in Ontario, chances are you’ve been told to “make sure you review the status certificate.” But what exactly is that, and why does everyone keep bringing it up?

Put simply, a status certificate is a bundle of legal and financial documents tied to the condo unit and the building it sits in. It tells you where the condo corporation stands, financially, legally, and operationally. Things like how much money is in the reserve fund, whether the unit is behind on fees, or if there are any lawsuits in play. It’s a snapshot of the condo’s overall health.

What You’ll Find Inside a Status Certificate

Status Certificate Ontario includes:

• The unit’s current fee payments and any arrears

• The condo corporation’s annual budget

• Reserve fund details (how much is saved for future repairs)

• Notices about upcoming major repairs or special assessments

• Legal issues involving the corporation

• The condo declaration, bylaws, and rules (e.g. pets, smoking, short-term rentals)

This isn’t just paperwork. If there’s a big repair coming up, or the building’s insurance coverage is limited, you’ll want to know now and not after you’ve bought the unit.

Why It Matters Before You Buy

A unit can look great on the surface level, but that doesn’t always tell the whole story. If the condo board is dealing with lawsuits, or if the building needs a new roof and there’s not enough money in the reserve, that could land on your shoulders as a new owner.

These details don’t show up in a listing or an open house. They are buried in the status certificate, and that’s why reviewing it properly matters. Some buyers skim through it on their own, but a real estate lawyer can flag things you may miss. In many cases, they’ll spot issues that could give you a reason to walk away or renegotiate the deal.

How to Request a Status Certificate Ontario

Requesting a status certificate sounds like something your agent or lawyer handles behind the scenes, and often, they do. But it’s still important to understand how the process works so you know what’s happening and when.

Who Can Make the Request

Anyone can request a status certificate Ontario, but it’s usually done by:

• The buyer’s real estate lawyer

• The buyer’s agent

• Or the buyer themselves, if they’re handling the deal directly

The request is made to the condo corporation or its property management company, depending on who oversees the building.

Where Do You Get a Status Certificate?

The request goes to the condo corporation, but usually the property management company handles the paperwork. Most condo buildings have a management company that keeps all the records and issues the certificate. 

Sometimes, you’ll find a request form on the management company’s website, or your lawyer will send a formal written request.

How Long Does It Take?

Ontario’s Condominium Act gives condo boards 10 days to deliver the status certificate Ontario after receiving the request and payment. Ten days do feel like a long wait when you’re eager to close, but it’s important to give them time to prepare the full, detailed package.

Some property managers offer rush services for an extra fee, which can shorten the wait, but these are less common, and the base timeline is set by law.

What Does a Status Certificate Ontario Cost?

By law, the condo corporation can charge a maximum of $100 plus HST for the status certificate. That price covers the official document and supporting records. Sometimes, there can be small additional fees (courier charges or expedited processing), but they can’t go beyond what the law allows.

Who pays for the status certificate? That depends on your purchase agreement. Often, the buyer covers it as part of due diligence. But sometimes sellers agree to pay or split the cost. Make sure this is clear when you negotiate the sale.

What Happens After You Request It?

Once the condo board or property manager receives your request, they gather a bundle of condo documents  (usually over 100 pages), including financial statements, bylaws, insurance policies, and any notices about repairs or legal disputes.

These records are combined into the status certificate Ontario and sent to you or directly to your lawyer. It’s your job to review this package carefully or have your Toronto real estate lawyer do it for you. This document gives you a clear picture of the condo’s condition beyond what you see on the surface.

Why Timing and Cost Matter More Than You Think

Delays in getting a status certificate can affect more than just your schedule; they can put your entire deal at risk. If you’re working with a conditional offer, missing the review window could mean walking away or closing without clarity on major issues.

The standard turnaround is 10 calendar days, and while rush options do exist, they’re not always available. Planning ahead gives your real estate lawyer enough time to flag problems before you’re locked in.

The base fee is usually $100, but extras like rush or courier charges can bump it up. Best to factor it in early to avoid last-minute surprises.

Why a Real Estate Lawyer Should Review the Status Certificate

Reading a status certificate isn’t just about checking off boxes, but it’s about spotting issues that can cost you later on. On the surface, the document does look like just a stack of bylaws and financial statements. 

But buried in there could be signs of trouble: a reserve fund that’s too low, an upcoming special assessment, or a legal dispute that hasn’t been settled yet.

Most buyers don’t have the legal background to pick up on these warning signs, and that’s completely normal, but the language in these documents isn’t always straightforward. A real estate lawyer knows what to look for and can translate what it actually means for you as a buyer.

For example, your lawyer can:

• Flag inconsistencies in the condo’s financials or governance

• Spot clauses that limit your use of the unit (like short-term rental restrictions or renovation limits)

• Identify risks that could impact financing or insurance

• Explain how any ongoing litigation or liens might affect your ownership

The goal isn’t to scare you, but it’s to make sure you’re walking into the deal that is fully informed. A lawyer’s review can give you the confidence to move forward, or the clarity to walk away before problems become your responsibility.

Even if everything looks fine, having a lawyer review the certificate gives you peace of mind. It’s a small step, but it can make a big difference in avoiding legal and financial problems after closing.

When Should a Real Estate Lawyer Step In?

Once the status certificate lands in your inbox, the clock starts ticking. If your offer is conditional on its review, you’ll have a limited window (often just a few days) to make the decision. 

This isn’t the time to skim through it yourself or assume your agent will flag anything odd. The certificate is often full of dense legal terms, outdated bylaws, and financial summaries that don’t tell the full story unless you know exactly what to look for. That’s where you should involve your real estate lawyer, and not as a last-minute checkmark, but as someone who can step in before you’re locked in.

Waiting too long can close doors. If something serious shows up, like a lawsuit against the condo board or a $2 million roof repair nobody warned you about, your response window is already shrinking. Lawyers can’t work backwards to renegotiate once that conditional period is over.

Some buyers also forget the financing side: your lender may want reassurance that the building is financially sound. And guess who’s in the best position to provide that reassurance quickly and clearly? Your lawyer.

If you're going to rely on the status certificate to protect your investment, it only works if someone qualified is reviewing it early and not after the deal's already barreling toward closing.

Final Thoughts

A condo can look perfect on paper, but the status certificate Ontario tells you what’s really going on behind the scenes, because it’s not just paperwork, it’s where hidden costs, legal issues, and financial red flags show up.

Getting it reviewed by a real estate lawyer early can save you from anything problematic later.

If you’ve got a certificate in hand and aren’t sure what it’s really saying, Khan Law can help you make sense of it before the deal is done.