Filing a Certificate of Lien (Form G)

WHAT IS A CERTIFICATE OF LIEN?

In general, a Strata can file a Certificate of Lien on the title to a Strata Lot when the Strata believes that the Owner owes a debt to the Strata from unpaid strata fees, special levy amounts, the strata lot’s share of a judgment against a strata corporation, or the costs of the work done by the Strata to a strata lot because of an order of a public or local authority.

There are several procedural steps that must be followed, and the Certificate of Lien must be filed with the Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia (LTSA) using Strata Property Regulation Form G. This article addresses how to file the Form G. It is important to know that simply filing a Certificate of Lien on the title to a strata lot does not make it valid.

WHAT IS THE FORM G?

The Strata Property Regulation Form G (Certificate of Lien), is a prescribed statutory form provided by the LTSA. It is available online.

WHAT INFORMATION IS REQUIRED BEFORE FILING A CERTIFICATE OF LIEN (FORM G)?

The Strata must have the following information to complete the form:

1.      The legal description and Parcel Identifier (PID) of the Strata Lot. We have a separate article explaining how to find the legal description and PID for a Strata lot.

2.      The amount owing at a specific date (the “debt date”).

The Form G must be signed by either two council members or by an authorized strata manager acting under delegated authority. The date of execution must also be included.

HOW IS A CERTIFICATE OF LIEN (FORM G) FILED?

A Certificate of Lien (Form G) is filed electronically with LTSA. It can either be done by uploading an EFS PDF or by doing a web filing. An EFS PDF is a downloadable template provided by the LTSA and it is the older way of doing the filing. We strongly recommend that Form G's are filed using the Web Filing option. However, we are providing instructions for only the Web Filing option.

These are the steps to properly file a Certificate of Lien (Form G) on a Strata Lot through the LTSA:

1. Prepare the completed Form G.

You must ensure that:

• All mandatory fields are completed.

• Required signatures are included.

  
  

The information must exactly match LTSA requirements (correct PID, legal description, and lien reference).

2. Log in to your LTSA Enterprise account

This is done through myLTSA and uses the Strata’s, strata manager’s or Strata Lawyer's LTSA Enterprise account.

3. Ensure the myLTSA account is funded and the user has access to Web Filing tools.

4. Choose “Web Filing”.

Web Filing forms must follow the LTSA’s Web Filing Form Practice Guides for proper completion.

• Select Web Filing from the left‑hand menu to create a new web filing form.

• Select “Create Application” and choose Strata Property Regulation Form G (Certificate of Lien).

• The system will open guided entry fields for you to complete.

5. Complete the Web Filing Fields.

• Start a new Form G – Certificate of Lien.

• Enter the required information in the structured fields.

• Upload supporting documents if required.

  
  

The Web Filing form will validate mandatory fields before allowing signature.

6. Generate and Review the Execution Copy.

• Click “Generate Execution Copy.”

• Review the PDF carefully to ensure spelling, numerical amounts, and property identifiers are accurate.

• LTSA requires the timestamp on the execution copy to match exactly with the electronic form timestamp when submitted.

7. Apply the Juricert Digital Signature.

• All filings must be authenticated using a Juricert digital certificate, which is the only certificate accepted by LTSA for electronic submissions.

• The form must be fully signed before submission. Only approved signers with Juricert digital certificates may sign. (Using another person’s Juricert signature is prohibited under s.168.7 of the Land Title Act.)

  
  

8.       Attach Any Supporting Documents (If Required)

The Form G usually requires no additional supporting documents, but if the strata has legal documentation confirming debt amounts, these may be attached as optional supporting evidence.

9.       Submit the Application.

Once signed, submit it through LTSA’s Electronic Filing System (EFS).Upon submission:

• Fees are automatically processed.

• A CA number (pending application number) is assigned to the filing.

• You will receive a confirmation of submission.

  
  

10.       Monitor Application Status.

• Track the application under “View Pending Applications.”

• LTSA will review the filing.

• If defects are found, LTSA will issue a defect notice outlining what must be corrected.

• Once accepted, the lien will be registered on the strata lot’s title.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE OWNER PAYS THE DEBT?

The purpose of the Certificate of Lien (Form G) is to register on the Strata Lot title that the Strata is claiming that the Owner owes a debt. If that debt is paid, the Certificate of Lien must be removed. The removal of a Certificate of Lien is done by the filing of an Acknowledgement of Payment (Form H) with the LTSA. We have another article describing how to file an Acknowledgement of Payment.