What is a Duplex?
A duplex home is a distinctive residential building comprising two separate living units within a single structure. Each unit functions as an independent living space, featuring its own entrance, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, and living areas, connected by a shared central wall. This housing style is versatile, with some even having a separate legal suite, which can be found in various settings. It offers homeowners the chance to live in one unit while renting out the other for added income or accommodating multigenerational families with privacy.
Are there Strata Fees?
No, there are no strata fees involved when living in a duplex.
What is a Strata Plan?
A strata plan refers to a legal document that outlines the division and ownership structure of a strata property. A strata property is a type of property ownership arrangement where individual units are owned privately, while common property (such as parking areas, walkways and yard space) is owned collectively by all the unit owners as part of a strata corporation.
Strata plans are filed with the Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia (LTSA) and become legally binding for all unit owners within the strata property. They serve as a foundational document that guides the ownership, and operations of the strata property and its common areas. The plan helps ensure a clear understanding of individual ownership rights and responsibilities as well as the shared obligations.
Do you own any portion of the land?
In a typical duplex, each unit is individually owned, and the ownership includes both the unit itself and a proportionate share of the land on which the duplex is situated. This is outlined in the property's legal documents, including the strata plan or land title documents.
What shared costs should you expect?
- Common Property Maintenance
- Home & Fire Insurance
What does a non-conforming strata mean?
A non-conforming strata, is a unique type of strata property arrangement where each individual unit owner not only owns their specific unit but also owns a share of the underlying land on which the property is located. This is different from the more common strata properties where owners own only the interior space of their unit and a proportionate share of the common property.
Are there rules, bylaws or a management company?
Why are duplexes considered a strata?
What is a front-to-back duplex vs. a side-by-side duplex?