A guide for owners, councils and managersThe drain service of Pure Mechanical Group Ltd.
Whose pipe is it?
In a BC strata, the short rule is: a pipe that serves only your suite is yours, and a pipe that serves more than one suite belongs to the strata corporation. Your bylaws and strata plan have the final word.
| The pipe | Usually looked after by | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The trap under your sink, tub or shower | Owner | It serves only your suite. |
| The drain line inside your suite, up to the shared pipe | Usually the owner | Check your bylaws: some stratas take on more. |
| Your toilet, taps and fixtures | Owner | Including the supply lines and shut-off valves to them. |
| The vertical stack running through the building | Strata corporation | It serves more than one suite, so it is common property. |
| Horizontal mains in the parkade or crawl space | Strata corporation | Common property. |
| The building sewer to the property line | Strata corporation | Past the property line it is the city's. |
| Parkade drains, catch basins and sumps | Strata corporation | Common property. |
How to tell where the blockage is
- Only one fixture in one suite is slow: it is in that suite.
- Water comes up in your sink when you have not used it: the shared pipe is blocked below you.
- The lowest suites on a stack back up first: the stack or the main is blocked.
- Several suites on different stacks: the horizontal main or the building sewer.
What to do when a drain backs up
- Stop using water in the suite. Ask the suites above to stop too.
- Call the property manager’s emergency line. Tell them which suite and which drain.
- Take photos before cleaning up.
- Ask the plumber to write down where the blockage was and how far from the access point.
- Report any damage to the strata right away, in writing.
This is general information, not legal advice. Responsibility for repairs and for damage depends on your strata’s bylaws, its strata plan, the cause, and the strata’s insurance. If there is a dispute, the Civil Resolution Tribunal handles strata claims in BC.