For property managers & strata

See the whole building without a lift

Roof, envelope and site condition, captured safely and kept on one record for the council, the consultant and the insurer.

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Why managers fly

Most building problems start where nobody looks

Roofs, upper facades, balcony edges, gutters, flashings and rooftop equipment are where water gets in, and they are the parts of a building nobody walks by. Getting eyes on them usually means a lift, a swing stage, rope access or a person on a ladder at the edge of a roof. That is slow to book, disruptive for residents and a fall risk.

A drone gets close-up photos of every elevation and the whole roof in a few hours, often without anyone leaving the ground. It does not replace a building envelope consultant or an engineer. It gives them far better information and lets them spend their site time on the problems instead of looking for them.

DroneLink keeps each property on its own project record: every inspection, every photo set, every report, with the dates. When the depreciation report consultant, the insurer or a new council member asks what the roof looked like three years ago, the answer is one link away.

Most building problems start where nobody looks: Illustration

What goes wrong

Problems councils and managers run into

Leaks with no history

A leak shows up in a suite. Nobody knows when the roof was last looked at or what changed.

How we handle itBaseline roof and envelope flights, repeated on a schedule, so every leak investigation starts with before and after photos. →

Depreciation and reserve studies with thin photo records

The consultant can only see what is reachable on the day. Upper facades and roof details get estimated.

How we handle itHand your consultant a current, complete aerial photo set before their visit. They still do their own on-site inspection. →

Insurance renewals with hard questions

Underwriters ask about roof age, condition and maintenance. Deductibles and premiums follow the answers.

How we handle itDated roof condition photos and maintenance records on one record you can share by link. →

Heat loss and moisture you can't see

Wet insulation and air leakage hide behind cladding until the damage is expensive.

How we handle itThermal flights on cold, still days, read alongside visual photos. Thermal shows temperature patterns, not moisture itself, so findings are checked on site. →

Dirty glass and access-heavy cleaning

Window and facade cleaning by rope access or lift is disruptive and hard to schedule.

How we handle itDrone exterior cleaning is coming. The equipment is being acquired and the service is not flying yet. Register interest or book a site assessment. →

Reserve and depreciation rules

Where drone photos help with the rules you already follow

Jurisdiction	Requirement (general)	How aerial data helps
British Columbia	Strata corporations with five or more lots need a depreciation report every five years; the three-quarter vote to waive it is gone. Preparers must be from listed professions and do an on-site visual inspection.	A complete roof and facade photo set for the preparer, dated and on file.
Alberta	Reserve fund studies at set intervals, commonly every five years, with a reserve fund plan approved by the board.	Condition photos between studies so the plan tracks reality.
Ontario	A comprehensive reserve fund study, then updates at least every three years, alternating between updates with and without a site inspection.	Photo evidence for the updates without a site inspection.
Québec	Since August 2025, syndicates of co-owners need a contingency fund study every five years and a maintenance log, prepared by designated professionals.	Dated condition photos that feed the maintenance log.
United States	Reserve study rules vary by state. Some states require periodic studies or structural inspections for condominiums.	The same condition record, shared with the reserve specialist or engineer.

The people around the job

Who needs what from a building inspection

Strata council or condo board

They need from you: Clear pictures and plain findings they can vote on.
You need from them: Approval of scope and budget before the flight.
On the DroneLink record: The estimate and order sit on the record; the council gets a link to the photo set.

Envelope consultant or engineer

They need from you: High-resolution photos of every elevation, labelled and dated.
You need from them: Their professional findings and recommendations.
On the DroneLink record: Deliver the set by link before their site visit, so they plan their time on site around the issues.

Insurer and broker

They need from you: Evidence of roof condition and maintenance.
You need from them: A fair renewal and quick claims.
On the DroneLink record: Share the dated condition history instead of hunting through email.

Residents

They need from you: Notice, and no drone looking into their suites.
You need from them: No complaints.
On the DroneLink record: Post notice before the flight. The pilot frames the building envelope, not interiors, and images showing people through glass are deleted or blurred.

Contractors

They need from you: Exact locations of defects so they price the real work.
You need from them: Comparable quotes.
On the DroneLink record: Pinned comments on the image mark each defect, and every bidder sees the same set.

What to order when

A simple yearly plan

Baseline

Full roof and every elevation, visual. If you manage a newer building, do it before the warranty period ends.

Before the depreciation report or reserve study

Refresh the photo set a few weeks before the consultant visits.

Before insurance renewal

Roof condition photos and a short summary of maintenance done.

Cold season

Thermal flight when the inside-outside temperature difference is large and the weather is dry and still.

After storms

Quick roof check for lifted membranes, missing shingles and blocked drains, before water shows up inside.

Cleaning (coming)

Before the flight

What to prepare, and what drives the scope

Building drawings or a site plan, so elevations and roof areas can be labelled the way your consultant names them.
Known problem areas: leak logs, suite numbers, past repair invoices. The pilot spends extra time where you already suspect trouble.
Roof access and a launch spot: a secure area on the ground or roof, and a key for the roof hatch if the pilot needs to check a detail.
Resident notice: date, time window, and a line saying the drone is photographing the building exterior only.
Scope drivers: building height, number of elevations, roof complexity, rooftop equipment, nearby airports or heliports, and whether you want thermal as well as visual.
Who receives it: list the council members, consultant and insurer who should get the link.

Questions

Can a drone inspection replace a depreciation report or reserve fund study?

No. In BC the report must be prepared by a qualified professional who does an on-site visual inspection, and other provinces set similar rules. Drone photos give that professional better information on roofs and upper facades.

Do we need resident permission to fly a drone around our building?

Aviation rules decide where the pilot may fly. Privacy is the council's concern: post notice, frame the envelope and not the suites, and delete incidental images of people. In BC, strata corporations are subject to PIPA for personal information they collect.

Can a drone find roof leaks?

A drone finds the likely causes: failed flashings, splits, ponding, blocked drains and damaged roofing. Thermal imaging can show where wet insulation holds heat differently. A roofer or consultant confirms the source.

How often should a strata roof be inspected?

Many managers do a yearly visual check plus after major storms, with more detail before a depreciation report or reroofing decision. Your roofer or consultant can set the right interval for your roof type.

Can a drone fly close to a high-rise in a city?

Yes, with the right certificate and planning. In Canada, the November 2025 rules added sheltered operations close to structures for Advanced pilots, and controlled airspace still needs NAV CANADA authorization. US flights follow Part 107 and LAANC.

Is drone window cleaning available for strata buildings?

It is coming. The equipment is being acquired and the service is not flying yet. Register interest or book a site assessment so your building is on the list when it launches.

Does a drone inspection disturb residents?

Less than a lift or swing stage. Most flights take a few hours, the aircraft is audible near the building, and nobody needs to open a suite. Post notice a few days ahead and tell residents the camera is aimed at the exterior.

What do we receive after a drone building inspection?

A photo set of the roof and every elevation, delivered by link on the building's project record, with any thermal images and notes. Findings needing professional judgment go to your consultant or engineer.

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