What BC Strata Councils Actually Need from Software
By Andrey Safonov, . About 2 minutes to read.
Summary
Most BC strata councils don't need a heavy property management suite. They need one searchable home for bylaws, minutes and AGM documents, clear access control between council and residents, a way to route and track resident requests, and something residents can use in a browser without an app. Pilot with council first, then invite residents.
If you’ve served on a strata council in British Columbia, you know the job is never just the meetings. It’s the “where are the 2019 minutes?” emails, the same bylaw question for the fifth time this month, and the scramble to assemble an AGM package.
I built OpenStrata because I wanted to put my industry experience to work where I live, for the buildings and councils in my own community, and take that load off volunteer councils. Here’s what councils actually need, and what to look for in strata management software, whether or not you choose ours.
1. One searchable home for strata documents
Bylaws, rules, minutes, insurance summaries, depreciation reports and engineering reports tend to live across a past treasurer’s laptop, a shared drive and someone’s inbox. The single most valuable thing software can do is put all of it in one place, searchable, organized by year and topic.
Look for: full-text search, organization by year or topic, and AGM packages that stay together as a set.
2. Clear access control between council and residents
Not every document is for everyone. Councils need to share bylaws and approved minutes with all owners and residents while keeping legal correspondence and draft budgets within council.
Look for: per-document or per-folder visibility, and the ability to change it without asking a vendor.
3. A request system, not an inbox
Resident requests about a leaking pipe, a parking question or a move-in booking usually land in one volunteer’s personal email. Things get lost when that volunteer goes on vacation or steps down.
Look for: requests that route to the right person automatically, a visible status, and a history that survives council turnover.
4. Self-service answers
Most resident questions repeat. When residents can find the answer themselves, such as move-in rules, pet bylaws or the amenity room booking process, council members get their evenings back.
5. No app to install
Adoption is everything. If residents need to download an app and create yet another account, many won’t. Browser-based software that works on any phone or computer removes the biggest barrier.
6. A pilot before the rollout
Councils are rightly cautious about changing how a whole building communicates. The safest path is to start with council only, load the documents, try the workflows, and then invite residents with guided onboarding.
7. Built for BC
Strata governance in British Columbia has its own vocabulary and rhythms: the Strata Property Act, AGMs and SGMs, depreciation reports, and the relationship between council, owners and property managers. Software designed for BC strata from the start fits better than a generic tool adapted for it.
How OpenStrata fits
OpenStrata was designed around exactly this list:
- a searchable home for documents, bylaws and minutes
- access controls for council and residents
- a request system that routes inquiries and tracks follow-ups
- self-service answers for residents
- AGM package support
- browser access with no app
- a council-only pilot option
It works for small self-managed buildings and for large complexes with professional management.
If you’re on a council and this sounds familiar, book a short demo at openstrata.ca. You can also read why we started Solunar.
Questions and answers
What is strata management software?
Strata management software helps a strata corporation run its building. It typically covers storing bylaws, minutes and AGM documents, communicating with owners and residents, tracking requests, and supporting council governance. OpenStrata is strata management software built for British Columbia.
Does strata software replace a property manager?
Not necessarily. Self-managed stratas can use it to run things themselves, and professionally managed buildings can use it to cut back-and-forth between owners, council and the manager.
Do residents need to download an app?
With OpenStrata, no. It runs in any modern browser on a phone or computer.
What should a strata council look for in software?
Look for searchable documents, access control between council and residents, request tracking, AGM support, easy onboarding, privacy, and the option to pilot with council before rolling out to everyone.