Five neighbours are elected to look after a shared building. They know the elevator's history, the owner who complains about parking and which contractor usually answers the phone. This familiarity can be a strength. It can also tempt the council to make decisions without the records expected of an organization responsible for other people's property and money.
British Columbia's guidance on strata councils explains that council members must act honestly and in good faith with a view to the strata corporation's best interests, and exercise the care, diligence and skill of a reasonably prudent person in comparable circumstances. It also discusses conflicts of interest and the limits of personal liability. A strata council is neither a private social club nor an unrestricted arm of the property manager.
The familiar contractor problem
Suppose an owner on the council has a business relationship with the company proposed to repair a building membrane. The council might consider the company's history and responsiveness, but it still has to examine the possible conflict and apply the governing strata rules. A good price doesn't automatically erase a conflicted process.
Likewise, the council's meeting record should distinguish a complaint from an established breach of a bylaw, and the strata corporation's interests from a particular council member's preferences. Decisions about repairs, assessments or access to information may have lasting financial consequences for owners who weren't present at the meeting.
Accountability without turning every argument into litigation
Owners need comprehensible records, clear notice of decisions and a way to identify which matters belong to council, a general meeting or a professional adviser. A manager can assist with administration, but delegating tasks doesn't mean the elected council has no governance responsibility left.
Strata legislation differs across Canada, and the British Columbia source should not be imported mechanically into an Ontario condominium or Alberta cooperative. The practical requirement is to make authority and reasons visible even when the people involved have known each other for years.