The biggest difference between a freehold Ottawa condominium and a regular Ottawa condominium is what is included as part of the unit. In a freehold condominium, the person owns the plot of land and the structure that is on the land, such as the Ottawa condo. The owner would be responsible for the care and upkeep of the land and house, including the roof, exterior walls, garden, lawn, driveway and garage.

With a freehold condominium, the common property elements might include access roads to the units, recreational facilities, visitor parking area or a park with a playground. These items may be the responsibility of the condominium corporation. All unit owners pay a monthly condominium fee toward their upkeep.

With a regular townhouse or house condominium, the unit typically consists of the interior of the house itself, while the exterior of the house and the plot of land on which the unit sits are considered part of the common elements. This means that repair and maintenance of items like exterior walls, windows, lawns, gardens and driveways may be the responsibility of the condominium corporation. In a freehold condominium, you usually have more freedom to make improvements, such as landscaping features, to the unit. However, there are usually provisions that give the condominium corporation some control over owners modifying the unit, such as determining when the roof will be repaired, and what colour the shingles must be. So if you want to change the colour of your door or build a deck in your backyard, you may have to ask for permission from the Board of Directors.

Note: In some provinces, there are bare/vacant land condominiums.The land and any structure on it make up the unit and maintenance can be fully the responsibility of the condominium corporation or the unit owner.

Your Guide to Ottawa Condos

• What Is a Condominium?
• Types of Ottawa Condos
• Freehold Ottawa Condominiums
• What Do You Own & When You Buy a Condo?
• Condo Rules and Restrictions
• Moving From Single-Family to Multi-Unit
• Ottawa Condo Insurance
• Renting Ottawa Condos
• Choosing the Right Ottawa Condo
• Ottawa Condo Costs
• Ottawa Condo Checklist

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