🏠 Your Unit, Your Rights

What You Can and Cannot Do Inside Your Condo

One of the most common sources of confusion in condominiums is where your rights as an owner begin and end.

Property managers often say:

“You can’t change that.”
“You have to hire our contractor.”
“We need to approve everything inside your unit.”

That is not true in most cases.
Let’s clarify what you can do, what you can’t, and where the corporation’s authority stops.

🧩 Understanding the “Standard Unit”

Every condo corporation defines a standard unit – the baseline finishes, fixtures, and features your unit came with when it was built.

Anything inside your unit boundary that’s part of the standard unit is usually yours to maintain, repair, and modify.
Anything outside the standard unit or considered a common element is usually the corporation’s responsibility.

When you understand this, it becomes much harder for anyone to mislead you about what you “can” or “cannot” change.

🛠️ What You Control Inside Your Unit

For items that are part of the standard unit – floors, cabinets, sinks, light fixtures, interior doors, walls, and paint – you are generally free to:

Replace them with materials of your choice
Use your own contractors
Renovate or upgrade, provided it does not affect common elements

Example:

You can replace your carpet with hardwood without asking the property manager’s permission, unless there are specific rules about soundproofing.
You can repaint your walls any colour you want.
You can replace your own bathroom vanity or kitchen cabinets without involving their “preferred vendors.”

Key Point:
Unless your change affects common elements (e.g. plumbing behind walls, electrical risers, or balcony structure), you don’t need their contractor and you don’t need their approval.

🚫 What You Cannot Do Without Approval

If your planned changes affect shared systems or common property, you must follow the corporation’s rules. Examples include:

Moving plumbing or electrical lines inside walls
Knocking down structural walls
Changing exterior doors, windows, or balcony enclosures
Re-routing HVAC systems connected to other units

In these cases, the corporation may require:

Board approval
Specific permits or inspections
Use of qualified contractors

This is about safety and liability, not control.

⚠️ Don’t Let Them Mislead You

Some property managers and administrators intimidate owners into believing:

“You must hire our contractor.”
“You can’t change anything unless we approve it.”
“We decide what happens inside your unit.”

This is not true when the work is fully within your standard unit and does not impact common elements.

Why do they push “preferred” contractors?
Because it’s easier for them – one invoice, less admin – and, in some cases, management companies have financial incentives or agreements with certain vendors.

Your rights:

You can hire your own qualified contractors.
You control how your unit looks and functions.
They cannot deny you improvements that are legally within your boundaries.

🧾 Insurance Matters

The corporation’s insurance only covers the original standard finishes.
Upgrades you make – higher-end cabinets, custom floors – must be covered by your insurance.
If there’s damage, the corporation repairs to standard-unit finishes. You pay the difference for your upgrades.

🔑 Know Your Rights, Protect Your Space

Read the declaration and rules carefully before starting major changes.
Don’t be intimidated into using contractors you didn’t choose.
If they pressure you, ask them to provide the exact section of the Condominium Act or declaration that supports their claim.

✅ Quick Rule of Thumb

Inside Your Unit	Your Right	Corporation Control
Replacing flooring, cabinets, paint	✅ Yes	❌ No
Hiring your own plumber/electrician	✅ Yes	❌ No (unless common systems are affected)
Moving plumbing behind walls	❌ No	✅ Yes
Changing windows, balcony enclosures	❌ No	✅ Yes
Renovating kitchens or bathrooms (fixtures only)	✅ Yes	❌ No
Upgrading light fixtures, doors, trim	✅ Yes	❌ No

Condo Chronicles