The purpose of the Reserve Fund Study is to ensure there are sufficient funds available to make major?repairs to, or replace the common element components and assets of the Condominium Corporation.
All CDW Engineering reserve fund studies comply with Ontario Regulation 48/01 General,?made under the Condominium Act, 1998.
A comprehensive study is typically the first reserve fund study that would be carried out on?the condominium property. This study includes a site review and would meet all the requirements?for a reserve fund study, as defined in the Act.
As the name implies, an updated study based on a site inspection is a study that updates an existing?comprehensive study, so that it is current as of the date of the update. As part of this update,?a site review is necessary in order to verify the condition of the components and the timelines?and costs for replacements.
An updated study not based on a site inspection is also an updated study, but a site visit is not?undertaken as part of the update. This update involves primarily updating financial information?in the study based on information provided by the condominium corporation. Other items that would?be updated would include cost estimates for the replacements, assumed inflation rates, and interest?rates for the reserve fund investments.
Comprehensive reserve fund studies are required for all new condominium corporations.?For condominium corporations that existed prior to the release of the most recent Condominium act?(May 2001), there was a three year period to get a comprehensive reserve fund study undertaken.Thus, by now all existing condominium corporations should have had reserve fund studies undertaken.
The updates to a comprehensive reserve fund study are to be undertaken every three years.?The first update after a comprehensive reserve fund study can be not based not on a site inspection.?The alternate update after that must be based on a site inspection. Thus, a site review would?be carried out for every other update or every six years, approximately.
It should be noted that if a comprehensive reserve fund study is undertaken by one company,?it is difficult, if not impossible, for a different company to undertake the update. Validation of?the information in the initial study, as well as problems copying the data or even using?a software which may be proprietary for the calculations, generally means that if a new reserve?fund study provider is chosen that the corporation will be starting with a new comprehensive type study.
If requesting proposals for a comprehensive reserve fund study, it is important to ask the reserve fund?study provider to also provide an indication of what the future update costs will be, as well as the cost?for the preparation of a Form 15.
Notice of Future Funding, formerly known as?Form 15,?is a plan that?the Board is required to propose within 120 days of receiving a final reserve fund study.?Within 15 days?of proposing the plan, the Board is required to send to the owners a notice?containing a summary?of the study, a summary of the proposed plan and a statement indicating?the areas, if any, in which?the proposed plan differs from the study. The Board is also required?to send to the auditor a copy?of the study, a copy of the proposed plan and a copy of the notice?sent to the owners.?Further, the Board is required to implement the proposed plan within?30 days of when the notice?was sent to the owners.
Very often, Reserve Fund Study providers will prepare the?Notice of Future Funding?on behalf of the Board.?Much of the information in?the Notice of Future Funding?comes directly from the Reserve Fund Study.?The Notice of Future Funding form?can be viewed by clicking here.
Consulting Engineers ? CDW Engineering has the expertise that will provide the professional?advice you can trust and depend on.
Experience – CDW Engineering has over 25 years experience helping directors make informed?and correct decisions.
Specialization – CDW Engineering specializes in Property Condition assessments and reserve?fund Studies. No follow-up services are provided, thereby ensuring unbiased professional?information with no conflict of interest.
Focus – Small to medium-sized residential and business condominiums are our primary focus.
Value – Prompt, professional service. Accurate and informative studies.