Kirti Law

06/02/2026

What does it actually mean when a BC home purchase contract says ‘no known issues’?

If you are buying a home in BC, you will rarely see true ‘warranties’ in a standard contract. Most seller statements are representations – they are based on what the seller knows at the time, not a guarantee that there are no hidden problems.

So language like ‘no known issues’ does not always mean there are no issues at all. A warranty, on the other hand, is a stronger legal promise. In most resale transactions, warranties are rare because they create long‑term legal exposure for the seller after closing.

The issue most buyers do not see is that small wording differences can shift who carries the risk if something goes wrong later. Many people only find this out once the deal is firm and their options are limited.

This post is general information only and is not legal advice. It does not create a lawyer‑client relationship.

If you are at the stage of removing subjects or signing a purchase agreement and want to understand how your contract handles risk, contact Kirti Law Corporation to have it reviewed before you commit.

06/01/2026

Been told a commercial lease is just a ‘standard form’ and not to worry about it?
Here’s the problem with that.
Most so‑called ‘standard’ leases are written for landlords, not tenants. They often build in landlord‑friendly terms on rent increases, operating costs, repairs, control over alterations, and options to end or relocate the tenancy.
Two ‘standard’ leases from different landlords can look very different. There is no single neutral template that everyone uses, and the fine print can shift a lot of risk and cost onto your business.
That’s why it’s important to actually read and negotiate the terms that matter to you, instead of assuming ‘standard’ means fair or balanced.
This post is general information only and is not legal advice. It does not create a lawyer‑client relationship.�Before you sign a commercial lease, have a lawyer review it with your specific business and plans in mind.

05/27/2026

Thinking about buying a commercial property for your business?
Here are three legal checks you should not skip:
Zoning and permitted use.�Confirm that the zoning and permitted uses for the property match what you want to do now — and what you may want to do in the future. Restrictions in zoning or bylaws can limit your operations and your ability to expand or change use.
Title and registered interests.�A title search can reveal mortgages, liens, easements, covenants, and other registrations that affect the property. Some of these can impact access, parking, development potential, or your ability to change the building.
Existing leases and occupancy agreements.�If the property is tenanted, you need to understand the leases: rent, term, renewal options, and what happens if you want to occupy part or all of the space yourself.
There are other important reviews too — including environmental, building, and financing issues — but these legal checks are a key starting point.
This post is general information only and is not legal advice. It does not create a lawyer‑client relationship.�If you’re considering buying a commercial property, talk to a lawyer about your specific situation before you commit.

05/25/2026

Worried about what happens on closing day?
If everything has been set up properly, closing day is usually less dramatic than it sounds.
In most BC home purchases, your lawyer will already have prepared the transfer and mortgage documents, coordinated with your lender, and arranged for the necessary funds.
On closing day itself, the funds are delivered, the documents are registered with the Land Title Office, and once registration is confirmed, the property legally transfers into your name.�After that, your agent will usually hand over the keys at the agreed time and you can move in.
Every file is a bit different, but closing day should mostly be about waiting for confirmation — not last‑minute scrambling.
This post is general information only and is not legal advice. It does not create a lawyer‑client relationship.�If you’re buying a home in BC and want help understanding your own closing timeline, contact Kirti Law Corporation.

05/22/2026

Thinking about buying or selling a business? One of the first questions you’ll hear is whether the deal will be an asset sale or a share sale.
In an asset sale, the buyer purchases selected assets of the business — for example, equipment, inventory, intellectual property, and sometimes contracts or goodwill. The legal entity that currently owns the business usually stays with the seller, and the buyer can be more selective about what they take on.
In a share sale, the buyer acquires the shares of the company itself. The buyer steps into the shoes of the existing owners and takes the company as a whole — including assets, contracts, and often existing obligations and liabilities.
Each structure has different legal, tax, and risk consequences, and what’s best can look very different for buyers and for sellers.
This post is general information only and is not legal or financial advice. It does not create a lawyer‑client relationship.�Before you agree on a structure for buying or selling a business, speak with your own legal and financial advisors about your specific situation.

05/19/2026

Should you ever waive a home inspection to make your offer stronger?
For most first‑time buyers, waiving an inspection is one of the riskiest choices you can make.
A proper inspection can reveal issues you may not see on a quick walkthrough — hidden water damage, structural problems, electrical issues, or aging systems that are expensive to fix.�Without that information, you’re committing to the purchase largely ‘as is’, and many of those surprises become your responsibility after closing.
In some situations, buyers may consider alternatives, such as arranging a pre‑offer inspection or negotiating specific inspection terms, so they’re not going in blind.
This post is general information only and is not legal advice. It does not create a lawyer‑client relationship.�Before waiving an inspection or other protections in your contract, speak with your own legal and real estate professionals about your specific situation.

05/18/2026

Signing a commercial lease for your business and skipping over the fine print?
Here are three clauses that cause many of the disputes I see:
Operating costs / additional rent.�This is where many ‘surprise’ charges live — common area costs, repairs, management fees and other pass‑through expenses. If you don’t understand how they’re calculated and capped (or not capped), your rent may not be as predictable as you think.
Repair and maintenance.�Who pays when the roof leaks, the HVAC fails, or a major system needs replacement? Some leases push more responsibility onto the tenant than they expect. If the language is vague, landlord and tenant may each feel the other should pay.
Renewal and termination.�Does the lease give you an option to renew on clear terms, or are you back to negotiating from scratch? What happens if you need to leave early, or if the landlord wants to end the tenancy? These provisions matter when your business needs change.
This post is general information only and is not legal advice. It does not create a lawyer‑client relationship.�Before you sign, renew, or try to exit a commercial lease, talk to a lawyer about your specific situation.

05/16/2026

Today, the Supreme Court of Canada released a landmark decision: *Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia*, 2026 SCC 16. The Court has now recognized a new civil claim (tort) of intimate partner violence.

In plain language, this means the law is starting to recognize that long‑term patterns of coercive and controlling behaviour in an intimate relationship can be a serious harm on their own – not just isolated incidents of physical violence. This can include things like ongoing emotional abuse, financial control, surveillance, intimidation, and humiliation that take away a person’s freedom to make choices.

This change did not happen overnight. It comes from the courage of Ms. Ahluwalia in bringing her case forward, and from the sustained work of many organizations who intervened to support her and to educate the Court about how family and intimate partner violence actually works in real life.

Law does not change on its own. It changes because individual survivors and public‑interest organizations are willing to take on the cost and risk of pushing it.

This post is general information only and is not legal advice. If you have questions about how this decision might relate to your situation, please seek independent legal advice in your province or territory.

05/14/2026

Buying your first home in BC and not sure what your real estate lawyer actually does before closing?

Here are three of the big pieces I handle for buyers:

1. Reviewing what you’re signing. I go through your offer, the Contract of Purchase and Sale, and the fine print so you understand your obligations, deadlines, and any unusual clauses before you’re locked in.

2. Checking title and key property records. I review the title and other key records for registered charges, liens, unpaid taxes, or restrictions that could affect your ownership or how you can use the property.

3. Preparing the closing documents and managing the funds. I prepare and review the transfer and mortgage documents, coordinate with your lender, handle the adjustments, and ensure the property is registered in your name on completion.

This post is general information only and is not legal advice. It does not create a lawyer‑client relationship.

If you’re buying a home in BC and want advice about your specific deal, contact Kirti Law Corporation to book a consultation.

05/13/2026