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Summary: Ownright built Canada's first fully digital status certificate review. Instead of a 100-plus page PDF and a quick "everything looks fine," we break the certificate into six plain-language sections (building basics, rules, fees and assessments, financial health, insurance, and legal issues), deliver it in a secure portal, and have a licensed Ontario lawyer review every one. The result is a condo review you can actually understand, without cutting any corners.
Buying a condo is exciting, but the status certificate can make it feel overwhelming. If you have seen one, you know how intimidating it looks: dozens of pages of financial statements, bylaws, and legal language that seems designed to confuse. That single document can make or break your purchase, so we rethought how the review is done, to leave you confident, informed, and supported.
Why does the status certificate matter so much?
In Ontario, every condo purchase comes with a status certificate — a snapshot of the building's health: its finances, rules, insurance, and any ongoing legal issues. It is essential information, but the way it is usually presented makes it hard for buyers to understand what they are walking into. For a fuller primer on the document and why the review counts, see why a status certificate review matters more than you think.
Too often you are left with a dense document and a short conversation that boils down to "everything looks fine." On the flip side, you might be told it does not look fine, but the reasoning is hard to follow. Neither outcome helps you make one of the biggest financial decisions of your life with confidence.
How is Ownright's status certificate review different?
We built Canada's first fully digital status certificate review, which replaces the dense PDF and the vague verdict with a clear, sectioned summary backed by a lawyer. The table below shows the contrast.
Traditional review | Ownright's digital review | |
Format | 100-plus page PDF | Six plain-language sections |
Verdict | "Everything looks fine" | What each finding means for you |
Delivery | Email attachments, follow-up calls | Secure portal, available anytime |
Lawyer involvement | Brief conversation | Every certificate reviewed by a lawyer |
What does the digital review cover?
Instead of handing you a 100-plus page PDF, we break the review into six straightforward sections, each written in plain language with tips and context so you actually understand what you are reading:
Property and building basics. What the unit and building are, and the key details on record.
Building rules and restrictions. Pet rules, rental rules, and other bylaws that affect how you can live in or rent the unit.
Monthly condo fees and special assessments. Your ongoing fees and any one-time charges owners may be required to pay.
Financial health of the condo corporation. Whether the reserve fund and budget can cover repairs and emergencies.
Insurance coverage. What the corporation insures and where your own coverage needs to start.
Legal issues or disputes. Any lawsuits or legal matters involving the corporation.
Is the digital review delivered online, and is it lawyer-backed?
Yes to both. Your review lives in our secure portal, so there is no waiting on email attachments or chasing updates, and you can open it anytime. And every status certificate is reviewed by one of our lawyers. Their expertise powers the digital experience you see, giving you the best of both worlds: a professional legal review delivered in a clear, user-friendly format. We explain what the information means, where you might want to ask follow-up questions, and how it could affect your decision, so you feel informed rather than left in the dark. To see exactly what that legal work involves, read what a real estate lawyer actually does in a status certificate review.
Does the digital review replace the full legal document?
No. Our digital review highlights the key details and potential red flags; it does not replace the full certificate. We always encourage you to read the certificate in its entirety and ask us questions if anything stands out. Our role is to make the complex simple and help you feel empowered, not to cut corners. For the underlying documents the review draws on, see what are status certificate review documents.
Frequently asked questions
What is a status certificate review?
It is when a real estate lawyer reads a condo's status certificate and explains what it means for you: the corporation's financial health, fees, rules, insurance, and any legal issues. In Ontario it is one of the most important checks before committing to a condo purchase.
What does Ownright's digital status certificate review include?
Six plain-language sections: property and building basics, building rules and restrictions, monthly fees and special assessments, the corporation's financial health, insurance coverage, and legal issues or disputes. Each section explains what the finding means for you, and a lawyer reviews every certificate.
Does a digital status certificate review replace the full legal document?
No. The digital review highlights key details and red flags so the certificate is easier to understand, but it does not replace reading the full document. Ownright encourages buyers to read the certificate in full and ask questions about anything that stands out.
Is the review done by a lawyer or by software?
Both work together. The certificate is reviewed by a licensed Ontario lawyer, and the digital format presents their findings in clear, sectioned plain language. The technology organizes and explains; the lawyer provides the legal judgment.
Is a status certificate review required when buying a condo in Ontario?
A status certificate is part of essentially every Ontario condo purchase, and reviewing it is a standard, strongly recommended step, usually done while your offer is still conditional. It is how you confirm the building's financial and legal health before you are bound to buy. For more on what to weigh, see 4 things to consider before you buy a condo.
About the author
Joel Fox is a co-founder and COO at Ownright. He helps run the firm's day-to-day work on Ontario residential closings, refinances, and sales, and writes regularly to demystify the parts of a transaction that most homeowners only encounter once or twice in their lives.
At Ownright, we make Ontario real estate simple, transparent, and fully supported, pairing a digital platform with licensed Ontario lawyers across purchases, sales, refinances, and status certificate reviews. You can start your closing online or get in touch with any questions.
Legal references: Condominium Act, 1998, S.O. 1998, c. 19, which governs status certificates and condo corporation disclosure in Ontario.
Important note: This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. No one should act, or refrain from acting, based solely on the information in this post or any linked materials without first seeking appropriate legal advice.
