In many new communities in Calgary the developer will create a Residents Association (Residents Association). Generally, Residents Associations are established to maintain community amenities that are not the responsibility of the City.

The Residents Association may also enforce community architectural guidelines (ex. roofing, fencing, colors etc.). A property owner in the community is required to be a member of the Residents Association and must pay a compulsory annual fee.

The existence of a Residents Association can be determined by visiting the community website, or by conducting a land title search. The Residents Association fee will be registered on the title as an Encumbrance.

The amount of the fee will vary depending on the particular community – they generally range between $200 and $300 per year, ours is $100. If fees are not paid the arrears plus interest can be collected when the property is sold by virtue of the Encumbrance on title.

When you purchase a property with Residents Association, you will want to confirm the amount of the annual fee, and that the current fees have been paid in full by the seller. Your lawyer will make adjustments with the seller’s lawyer so that each party pays their pro rata share of the current annual Residents Association fee.

The developer will usually determine the initial amount of the Residents Association fees. Eventually the Residents Association will be transferred from the developer to the Community, and property owners can volunteer to serve on a self-managed Residents Association Board.

Yes, all property owners included in the Sage Hill Residents Association (SHRA) have attached to their land or property titles a legally binding agreement referred to as an encumbrance whereby the property owner is required to pay a yearly fee to the SHRA for sustainment and improvement of the SHRA assets.

The Residents Association fees are collected by C-Era Property Management – An Associa® Company on behalf of the Sage Hilll Residents Association.

Members of the SHRA receive an annual fee reminder in March, with fees due on or before April 30 each year.

The funds are spent to on utilities, property taxes, insurance, landscaping, and maintaining SHRA owned property within the community etc.

Residents benefit by having certain amenities and assets in their community, which because of their unique nature, could not otherwise be provided, as the City would not normally accept responsibility for their maintenance. Other benefits include the potential for future enhanced maintenance of City owned assets. Other communities who do not have a Residents Association set up by the developer have petitioned the City to collect additional taxes through local improvement bylaws to fund enhanced maintenance of open spaced owned by the City.

The SHRA is governed via bylaws and a Board of Directors.

The Members of the association elect their Board of Directors annually at the Annual General Meeting. The Board of Directors is a legal entity and is financially responsible for the viability, sustainability and operation of the Residents Association.

The roles of the Residents Association are limited to matters affecting the operation of the association. Members can elect or defeat any Member standing for a Residents Association Directorship, and in that way guide the direction of the Association. Ultimately, the SHRA will be operated entirely by the residents via an annually elected Board of Directors.