Start your application
- Start by logging in or creating a new CAO account.
- Board directors or managers filing on behalf of their corporation must use the account associated with their corporation’s CAO profile.
- Access the File an application page
- Select your dispute type using the drop-down menu and click “File New Application”
- You will be asked to answer a few questions. Complete this application checklist.
Identify the parties
Applicants
This is the party that files an application with the Tribunal to resolve a dispute. Only unit owners, mortgagees and condo corporations can file applications with CAT.
You are still considered the applicant even if a representative files for you.
You can file by yourself or jointly with someone else if you are filing an application about a nuisance, annoyance, disruption or a provision in your condo corporation’s governing documents.
Make sure that the other applicants are willing to be a part of your application before you add them. Only add another applicant if they have the same issue as you and if you have discussed and agreed to file an application together. File separate applications if you have a different issue from another applicant.
Respondents
This is who you are filing against. You must identify them in the application.
A unit owner or mortgagee can file an application against any combination of:
- One or more other unit owners
- One or more occupants of a unit
- Their condominium corporation.
A condominium corporation can file an application against any combination of unit owners or occupants.
Here are a few examples:
- An owner can file against another unit owner and the unit’s current occupant
- An owner can file against another owner and the condo corporation
- A corporation can file against two or more owners
- Tenants cannot file applications with the CAT
Who you can file against will depend on your dispute. The respondent is:
- Usually, your condo corporation if your application is about records.
- The parties that did not comply if your application is about non-compliance with a settlement agreement.
Review the CAT’s Guide to Respondents and Intervenors for more information.
The Tribunal cannot accept applications filed against a manager or management services provider. Condo managers act on behalf of corporations. You may be able to file against the corporation if you have an issue with the manager. For example, you may be able to file a records case if your condo manager did not provide you with records.
Intervenors
An Intervenor is a person or legal entity that can participate in a Tribunal case.
You must identify all Intervenors when you file an application about an nuisance, annoyance or disruption, or a provision in your condo corporation’s governing documents.
Review the CAT’s Guide to Respondents and Intervenors for more information.
Describe the issue
The Tribunal’s Online Dispute Resolution system will ask you to identify your issues from a list and provide additional details. This information will be shared with the Tribunal and all other parties. Focus on important details so the CAT and the other users know what the application is about.
Optional: Add documents
You can add any documents that you think may be useful to your application. You will have another opportunity to upload documents again once the CAT accepts your application. Other parties will be able to view and download these files.
You should upload a copy of your Request for Records form and any responses you receive if your application is about records.
You should add a copy of the condo corporation’s declaration, by-laws and rules if your application is about a provision in your corporation’s governing documents relating to pets, animals, parking, storage, vehicles, or indemnification.
Submit your application
All applicants must join the application and vote to file it for the case to be submitted. The primary applicant can complete the application and officially file once all votes are in.
There is a non-refundable $25 filing fee to file an application with the CAT.
The Tribunal will then review your application.
- We will accept the application and you will be prompted to deliver the notice to the other users if your application includes all the necessary information.
- We may ask for more details if we see there is missing information
FAQs
The CAT can accept applications about the following types of disputes:
- Condominium Records
- Compliance with Settlement Agreements
- Disputes about provisions in a condo corporation’s governing documents involving pets and animals, vehicles, parking and storage.
- Disputes about nuisances, annoyances, or disruptions or provisions in a condo corporation’s governing documents regarding noise, odour, light, vibrations, smoke and vapour.
- Disputes about any other type of nuisance, annoyance or disruption set out in provisions in a condo corporation’s governing documents.
- Disputes about provisions in a condo corporation’s governing documents involving indemnification or compensation relating to points 3, 4 and 5 above
There is a non-refundable $25 filing fee to file an application with the CAT.
Tribunal staff will review your application to make sure it contains all necessary information. We may ask you to provide further details or accept your application right away.
Either way, you will receive an email notification on the next steps within a few business days.
You can have a lawyer, paralegal, or other person file your application for you.
Companies, organizations and condo corporations must use a representative to file a case. This individual must be a member of the condo corporation’s board of director, a licensed condominium manager or a lawyer or paralegal.
Lawyers and paralegals must be licensed by the Law Society of Ontario or must fall under an exemption in the Law Society Act or the Law Society of Ontario’s by-laws.
If you are filing an application about an nuisance, annoyance or disruption or a provision in your condo corporation’s governing documents, you can file by yourself or jointly with other applicants.
If you are considering filing an application with two or more applicants, make sure that the other applicants are willing to be a part of this application before you add them. You should only file an application along with other applicants if it is about the same issues. If another applicant wants to raise different issues, then they may want to consider filing their own application separately.
If you are filing an application about a provision in your condo corporation’s governing documents, you can file against multiple Respondents.
For more information on who you can name as a Respondent, you should review the CAT’s Guide to Respondents and Intervenors: Governing Documents Disputes.
Have a Question?
If you have a question about any of the information you’ve read, please contact us. We have a team available to answer any questions you may have.