Maintenance logbooks and Bill 16: why condos will need you

Bill 16 · Condos

Bill 16 in brief

Bill 16 (passed in 2019) amended the Civil Code of Québec to better regulate divided co-ownership. The regulation that sets out the details, the Regulation establishing various rules concerning divided co-ownership, has been in force since August 14, 2025.

It requires condo boards (syndicates of co-owners) to:

• have a maintenance logbook established for the building;
• have a contingency fund study produced.

For existing condos, the law gives three years from that date to have the first logbook established and obtain a first contingency fund study: until August 2028 (August 15, 2028 at the latest, according to Québec.ca, which speaks of three years and one day). For new condos, the developer must hand both documents over to the syndicate.

Sources: Québec.ca, "Mesures en copropriété" (condominium measures) ; Regulation establishing various rules concerning divided co-ownership, CQLR c. CCQ, r. 8.01.

What is a maintenance logbook?

The maintenance logbook is the building's memory. Under the regulation (ss. 2 and 3), it includes, among other things:

• an inventory of the common portions and of the materials, appliances and equipment they contain;
• for each one: the installation date if known, the maintenance work required, how often, and the date it was done, routine repairs and their dates, contracts and warranties, inspection reports and the manufacturer's manuals;
• an estimate of the condition and remaining lifespan of each component, and a list of major repairs and replacements to plan for over at least the next 25 years.

Who does what?

This is where a lot of people get it wrong. There are three distinct roles.

Establishing and revising the logbook: an independent professional

Only a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs (engineers), the Ordre des architectes (architects), the Ordre des technologues professionnels (professional technologists) or the Ordre des évaluateurs agréés (chartered appraisers) du Québec can establish the logbook (s. 1). That person must work mainly in real estate management, construction, renovation, appraisal or inspection, and have no ties to the building or its manager.

The logbook must be revised at least every five years by someone who meets the same conditions (s. 5), or every ten years in certain specific cases.

Updating the logbook: the board of directors, every year

The logbook must be updated by the board of directors at least once a year (s. 4). Updating means adding any new information or document: work done, repairs, inspection reports. And if planned work wasn't done, the logbook has to say so and give the reason.

Keeping the logbook alive day to day: maintenance people

Five years between revisions is a long time. For the annual update to be accurate, someone in the field has to:

• inspect the components regularly;
• do the maintenance that's planned, at the right time;
• record what was done, when, and what was observed;
• flag anything that's wearing out faster than expected.

That's not the job of the professional who establishes the logbook. Realistically, it's not the job of a syndicate's volunteer directors either. It's the job of organized maintenance people who know how to read a building and document their work.

Why it's a trade with a future

Let's do the simple math: every condo syndicate in Quebec is covered. Year after year, each one will have to update its logbook with maintenance work that was actually done and documented. The need won't disappear after a first wave: it comes back every year.

For anyone who enjoys preventive maintenance, is thorough and likes things properly documented, it's a rare opportunity: a trade whose value is confirmed by law.

What it means for your career

If you have a DVS in General Building Maintenance, or solid maintenance experience, the skills that matter most for this shift are:

• inspection: spotting signs of wear before they turn into breakdowns;
• planning: knowing what to do, in which season, and how often;
• documentation: writing down clearly what was done and observed;
• communication: explaining a finding to a homeowner or a board of directors.

At Beau-frère à louer: Residential Maintenance Lead

At Beau-frère à louer, that's exactly the role of the Residential Maintenance Lead. They do the maintenance work for their members, inspect their homes, build the preventive maintenance plan, make sure it's followed, and keep a record of what's been done.

We're starting with our members' homes, and condo syndicates will be added to the portfolios later, which will include about 50 homes and a few syndicates. To be clear: Beau-frère à louer does not establish maintenance logbooks; that role belongs to qualified professionals. Our role is to keep the logbook alive between revisions.

The path: six months of onboarding in the field, in a paid job, 10 supervised inspections and training in building maintenance plans, then the lead role at $28.50/h, possible after 6 months. From day one: $26/h, 35 guaranteed hours, weekday daytime hours, company van provided.