B.C.’s Civil Resolution Tribunal has ordered a Vancouver strata to cancel $12,000 in fines against an owner who had been renting her suite as short-term accommodation (STA).
However, owner Renmei Gong was also ordered in tribunal member Megan Stewart’s July 17 decision to pay more than $7,000 for associated bylaw fines and unpaid fees.
The strata said that, between September 2021 and August 2022, Gong used her unit as an STA contrary to its bylaws.
As such, the strata imposed fines against her that hit $18,000.
The strata also claimed Gong violated other bylaws, failed to pay her strata fees causing a non-sufficient funds charge, and failed to pay a change in occupancy fee.
As a result, the strata imposed additional fines, and charged the applicable fees to Gong’s strata lot account.
“These total $2,094.34,” Stewart said. “The strata says Ms. Gong refused to pay the $20,094.34 she owes for the fines and fees.”
Stewart found two occupants were not Gong’s tenants and that the strata did not meet multiple requirements under the Strata Property Act for notification of fines.
She found the strata improperly imposed fines of $12,000 in connection with using the unit as an STA and ordered the fines removed from Gong’s account.
That left the strata’s claim for $6,000 in STA usage fees and a $2,094.34 counterclaim for other bylaw fines and fees.
Stewart found those had been partially proven and ordered Gong to pay $7,669 in debt for bylaw fines and unpaid fees.
