Condominium Manager Licensing and Discipline in Ontario

When the CMRAO Takes Action

This page is for individual condo managers, including principal condominium managers, and for the management provider businesses that employ them under the Condominium Management Services Act, 2015 (CMSA). Complaints commonly come from condo owners or boards about records, communication, finances or conflicts of interest.

Like other administrative-authority regimes, the CMSA has two tracks: registrar proposals about your licence go to the Licence Appeal Tribunal, and alleged code of ethics breaches go to the CMRAO’s discipline committee.

Who Investigates and Who Decides

Regulator

The CMRAO and its registrar, under the CMSA.

Complaints

The registrar can request information from any licensee about a complaint, and the licensee must provide it as soon as practicable (CMSA, s. 57(1)–(3)).

Registrar’s options

Mediate; issue a written warning; require a condo manager, or a provider’s principal condominium manager, to take courses; refer the matter to the discipline committee; propose action against a licence; or take other appropriate action (s. 57(4)).

Inspections and investigations

Inspectors may inspect without a warrant in some circumstances, and investigators can obtain search warrants (ss. 59–62).

Who decides

The Licence Appeal Tribunal for licence proposals (s. 41); the discipline committee, with an appeal to the appeals committee, for code of ethics matters (s. 58). LAT decisions under the CMSA can be appealed to the Divisional Court (Licence Appeal Tribunal Act, 1999, s. 11).

Managers and providers

Providers must notify the registrar within five days when a condo manager starts or stops working for them, and give the reason for any termination; managers must also report changes (CMSA, s. 45). Discipline orders can require a provider to fund education for its managers, or require a manager’s employer to do so (s. 58(4)).

Common Issues in Condo Management Investigations

What Can Happen Next

1. Discipline committee

   If the committee finds a breach of the code of ethics, it may require courses, require a provider to fund education for its managers, impose a fine of up to $25,000 (or any lesser prescribed amount), suspend or postpone those requirements on terms, and award costs (CMSA, s. 58(4)). A party may appeal the final order to the appeals committee, which may overturn, affirm or modify it (s. 58(5)–(6)).

2. Notice of Proposal

   To refuse, suspend or revoke a licence, or impose conditions you have not agreed to, the registrar must serve a Notice of Proposal with reasons (CMSA, s. 41(1)–(3)).

   Deadline

   You are entitled to a LAT hearing if you mail or deliver a written request to the registrar and the Tribunal within 15 days after service of the notice (CMSA, s. 41(2), (4)). Registered mail is deemed served on the third day after mailing (s. 73(2)). Without a timely request, the registrar may carry out the proposal (s. 41(7)).

3. Immediate suspension

   When proposing a suspension or revocation, the registrar can also suspend your licence immediately if that is in the public interest. If you request a hearing, the order expires 15 days after the Tribunal receives your request, unless the hearing has started and the Tribunal extends it (CMSA, s. 43).

4. Reapplying

   After a refusal or revocation becomes final, you can reapply only after the prescribed time and if there is new evidence or a material change in circumstances (CMSA, s. 44).

Checklist: Responding to the CMRAO

Frequently Asked Questions