Moving Into a Vancouver Strata? Questions to Ask About Fobs

Moving into a strata building in Vancouver usually means your keys are partly electronic: a fob for the front door, the parkade, the elevator or the amenity rooms. The easiest way to avoid lockouts and surprise fees is to ask a handful of clear questions before move-in day, get the answers in writing where you can, and know the building’s rules on extra fobs. Here’s a practical checklist for owners and renters alike.

Why fobs matter more than you think in a strata building

In most strata buildings, fobs are managed by the strata corporation or its property manager rather than by the individual owner. Each fob is typically registered to a unit in the building’s access system, which lets management turn off a lost fob without rekeying the whole building. That’s good for security, but it also means your access depends on records you don’t control. If the previous owner or tenant kept a fob, or the system still lists the wrong unit, you may find a door that won’t open on move-in day.

Asking questions early saves you from standing in the lobby with a moving truck outside.

Questions to ask before you get the keys

Whether you are buying or renting, put these to your realtor, landlord or the building’s property manager:

1. How many fobs come with the unit? Get a number, and ask whether that matches what the access system lists for your unit.
2. What does each fob open? Main entrance, parkade gate, elevator floors, bike room, storage locker room, gym, garbage room. Some buildings use different fobs or permissions for different areas.
3. Are all listed fobs being handed over? Ask the outgoing owner or tenant to return every fob, including spares they may have given to a cleaner, dog walker or family member.
4. Will old fobs be deactivated? Ask management whether fobs that aren’t handed over will be turned off in the system.
5. Is there a parkade remote or a separate gate fob? Some parkades use a different device from the door fob.

Questions about rules, fees and extra fobs

Every strata sets its own bylaws and rules, so don’t assume your new building works like your last one. Ask for a current copy of the bylaws and rules (buyers usually see these during the purchase; renters can ask the landlord) and look for:

• Replacement fobs. Who issues them, how long it takes, and whether there is a fee or deposit.
• Extra fobs. Whether there’s a limit per unit and who can request one. Renters may need the owner’s approval.
• Copies made elsewhere. Whether the building allows fob copies made outside management, and whether those need to be registered. Some buildings only allow fobs issued by management.
• Lost fob reporting. Who to contact and how quickly they need to hear about it.
• Move-out return. Whether fobs must be returned when you leave, and whether a deposit depends on it.

If anything is unclear, ask the property manager directly and keep their reply by email or text. That’s your record if a question comes up later.

Move-in day: booking the elevator and testing access

Many Downtown Vancouver towers ask residents to book the elevator or loading area for moves, and some require padded elevator walls or a move-in deposit. Check the building’s rules for how far ahead you need to book, then confirm your fob will work in the elevator on that day.

On day one, walk the building and test each fob on every door it’s meant to open: lobby, parkade (as a driver and on foot), elevator, storage and amenity rooms. If one doesn’t work, report it to management right away while the handover is fresh. It’s much easier to sort out an access record in the first week than months later.

Renters: extra questions to ask your landlord

If you rent in a strata building, your landlord is usually your first contact, and the strata or property manager is the second. Ask:

• Who do I contact if a fob stops working or goes missing, the landlord or the building?
• Can I request an extra fob for a partner or roommate, and who pays?
• Has the landlord given me a copy of the bylaws and rules that apply to tenants?
• Are there rules about guests, short-term stays or giving fobs to visitors?

Fob rules can affect your tenancy, so for anything you’re unsure about, check your tenancy agreement or the official BC tenancy resources rather than relying on a neighbour’s advice.

Thinking about a spare fob? Check first

Once you know your building’s rules, a spare fob can save you from a lockout. Before you get one copied anywhere, confirm two things: that your building allows copies, and that the fob is yours to use. Not every fob can be copied, since some access systems are designed to prevent it, and copying a fob you aren’t entitled to use is not okay.

If copies are allowed, label your spare without your address or unit number, and keep a simple list of who has each fob. Our spare building fob tips cover that in more detail. If a fob stops working, our fob troubleshooting guide walks through the common causes.

A quick move-in fob checklist

• Number of fobs confirmed, and all handed over
• Old or missing fobs reported for deactivation
• Bylaws and rules received and read (fob section especially)
• Replacement process and fees noted
• Elevator or loading area booked for move-in
• Every fob tested on every door it should open
• Property manager contact saved in your phone

Need a spare fob in Downtown Vancouver? Visit MyChoice

MyChoice Mobile Repair is a kiosk in Downtown Vancouver on Granville Street, open every day from 9 AM to midnight. We offer fob copy for compatible building access fobs. Once you’ve checked your strata’s rules, bring your fob and we’ll check if it can be copied. While you’re settling in, we also carry phone accessories like cases, chargers and cables.

Questions first? Call (236) 785-8300 or ask for a quote.