What the law already requires at sale
At every unit sale, the seller must give the buyer the syndicate's attestation describing the co-ownership's financial and material situation (CcQ 1068.1). The regulation sets its minimum content (s. 10), and that content includes the contingency fund study's recommendation on how much the fund should hold, as well as the major repairs planned over the next 10 years. In other words: without a study, the attestation cannot answer those questions, and the gap stands out.
What notaries, buyers and lenders ask for in 2026
Since the regulation took effect, the due diligence on a condo purchase has tightened. The parties now expect to see:
| Document requested | What the buyer is looking for |
|---|---|
| Contingency fund study | Is the fund sufficient, or is a big special assessment looming? |
| Maintenance logbook | Is the building maintained, or have repairs been deferred? |
| Syndicate attestation | Are there arrears, disputes or unpaid contributions tied to the unit? |
| Contingency fund balance | How much is actually in the bank versus what the study recommends? |
| Recent assembly minutes | Have major works or contribution increases been voted? |
What happens when the documents are missing
Missing a study and logbook doesn't make the sale impossible, but it weakens it in three ways:
- The deal drags. The notary waits for the documents; the buyer hesitates; the offer's deadlines stretch out.
- The price gets renegotiated. A savvy buyer uses uncertainty about the contingency fund as leverage to lower their offer.
- The buyer walks away. If their lender requires the documents and they don't come, financing can fall through, and the sale with it.
The logbook and study are a selling point. A condo whose syndicate is compliant, with a well-planned contingency fund, reassures buyers and sells faster, often at a better price. Conversely, the absence of these documents is now a red flag for any informed buyer.
What to do if your syndicate has nothing?
If you're selling and the study and logbook don't exist yet, two things are worth doing quickly. First, push the board to commission the package: it's a syndicate obligation anyway, and the 2028 deadline is approaching. Second, if your sale is imminent, a rush service can deliver the documents in under two weeks, just in time for closing. That's often cheaper than the price cut a buyer would demand in their absence.