Any manager handling the affairs of B.C. condominium owners, or holding some of the estimated $1 billion in strata fees that are being held in trust for owners at any one time, is now breaking the law if they aren't licensed with the province's real estate regulator.

The licensing requirement was passed in January 2005 with the adoption of a new provincial Real Estate Services Act . The requirement came into force on January 1st 2006. "Up until this time, there was no consumer protection mechanism," said Anthony Cavanaugh of the Real Estate Council of B.C., who says the Barrett Commission into the province's leaky condo crisis made the recommendation to license strata managers.

Licensed real estate professionals who also manage rental property only have to take a supplemental exam dealing with strata property issues. Those who were not previously licensed will have to take a specific course on strata management before writing the exam. Strata corporations that are self-managed by their property owners will be exempt from the licensing requirement.

Cavanaugh estimates that most of the province's strata managers are now in compliance, but notes there will be a short grace period of a few weeks for those who have not already applied for licences. He added that the council expects that the public will pass on the names of those managers who are not in compliance, which the council will forward to B.C.'s Superintendent of Real Estate for enforcement action.

The Condominium Homeowners Association of B.C. estimates there are 30,000 strata corporations in the province that cover 1.1 million condominium units.

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