How Condo Fees Count in GDS in Canada
Canadian lenders put 50% of condo fees into Gross Debt Service, not the full fee. Mortgage P&I, property tax, and heating sit in GDS at 100%. Consumer debts sit only in TDS.
On a $100,000 income, monthly gross is $8,333. The 39% GDS cap is $3,250 a month. A $600 condo fee contributes $300 to that cap.
| Line | Amount in GDS |
|---|---|
| Gross monthly income | $8,333 |
| 39% GDS room | $3,250 |
| Condo fees $600 × 50% | $300 |
| Room left for P&I + tax + heat | $2,950 |
That $300 is 3.6 percentage points of GDS that a detached house with $0 condo fees could have spent on mortgage P&I. It is why two buyers with the same income and down payment do not get the same maximum price when one is buying a condo.
Enter condo fees in the affordability calculator (the engine already applies the 50% factor) and read the methodology. City tax and heat still matter; condo fees are the extra GDS line.
Frequently asked questions
What percent of condo fees count toward GDS in Canada?
50%. Lenders include half of the monthly condo or strata fee in Gross Debt Service, along with mortgage P&I, property tax, and heat.
Do condo fees also sit in TDS?
The same 50% is already inside GDS, and GDS is inside TDS. You do not add the other 50% on top unless a specific lender says otherwise — our engine follows the 50% CMHC/B-20 convention.
How much does a $600 condo fee cut buying power?
It puts $300 a month into GDS. On a $100,000 income that is 3.6 percentage points of the 39% GDS cap, which otherwise would have gone to mortgage P&I.