A cottage agreement can save the family headaches
Governance agreements help families avoid conflict over usage, costs, repairs, and decision-making.
Summary of Tim Cestnick — The Globe and Mail (Tax Matters). The Globe and Mail. Read the original.
Summaries are for educational purposes. All rights to original articles remain with the publisher.
What it covers
Cestnick makes the case for a formal cottage agreement that sets expectations around bookings, guests, pets, capital projects, cost sharing, and dispute resolution. He notes that the legal ownership structure—joint tenancy, tenants-in-common, or trust—should be chosen deliberately and then reflected in day-to-day decision rules.
Why it matters
Ambiguity is the enemy of family harmony. Small misunderstandings about who pays for what or who can invite whom often grow into long-term resentments.
Cottagr takeaway
Use a written cottage agreement plus Cottagr’s shared calendar and expense tools so that the rules are visible, enforceable, and easy to follow for every owner.
Summary of Tim Cestnick — The Globe and Mail (Tax Matters) — The Globe and Mail