What provinces require a license for property management in Canada?

A property manager is not only required to have a good understanding of rental laws but also to have a good handle on financials. They hold money in trust on behalf of their tenants and landlords such as deposits and rent. As a result, many provinces in Canada have made it a requirement to be licensed in order to operate as a property manager.

Provinces that require a license are

• Ontario

• Manitoba

• British Columbia

• Saskatchewan

• Alberta

Ontario

Ontario requires a license for condominium managers and condominium management provider businesses. Property managers of other properties such as apartments, single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes do not require a license.

The license for condominium managers is issued by the Condominium Management Regulatory Authority of Ontario (CMRAO). They issue three licenses for condominium managers: General Licence, Transitional General Licence and Limited Licence. A separate license is issued to condominium management provider businesses.

Manitoba

Manitoba requires any individuals or companies engaging in property management on behalf of a third party requires the manager or representative of a property management company to have completed the Principles of Property Management Course administered by The Manitoba Real Estate Association.

The property manager or property management company must provide evidence that they have an interest-bearing trust account set up with a bank, credit union or trust company in Manitoba. They are also required to submit a surety bond or certificate of membership in the Manitoba Real Estate Association’s Real Estate Reimbursement Fund.

British Columbia

Property managers are required to be licensed in British Columbia by the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA). They are required to take The Rental Property Management Licensing Course at the UBC Sauder School of Business. Property management companies are required to get a brokerage license or hire a managing broker.

Saskatchewan

Property managers in Saskatchewan are required to get a license under The Real Estate Act. A company looking to provide property management services needs to employ an individual that is qualified to be a real estate broker. The activities that are considered property management include, but not limited to, the following:

• Leasing, negotiating, approving, or offering to lease

• Negotiating or approving a lease

• Rental of real estate

• Collecting rent or holding money received in connection with a lease or rental of real estate

Alberta

Property managers in Alberta are required to have a license from the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA). RECA considers the following activities to be property management:

• leasing or offering to lease real estate, or negotiating or approving, or offering to negotiate or approve, a lease or rental of real estate

• holding money received in connection with a lease or rental of real estate

• advertising, negotiating or carrying out any other activity, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of furthering an activity above

Individuals or groups that do not require a property management licence:

• an on-site manager who lives on the residential property

• a non-profit organization, its employees or officials when engaged in property management for subsidized residential premises

Applicants are required to complete courses offered by RECA.