Fixture
Understand what a fixture is in Canadian real estate, how it differs from chattels, and how to avoid confusion over what's included in a property sale.
May 22, 2025
What is a Fixture?
A fixture is any item of personal property that has been permanently attached to real estate and is considered part of the property.
Why a Fixture Matters in Real Estate
In Canadian real estate, fixtures are typically included in the sale unless explicitly excluded in the Agreement of Purchase and Sale.Common examples of fixtures include:
- Built-in appliances
- Light fixtures and ceiling fans
- Mounted shelving and cabinetry
- Attached mirrors or window blinds
The legal test for a fixture often considers how the item is attached and whether it was intended to be permanent. Buyers and sellers should clearly list inclusions and exclusions to avoid disputes.
Understanding fixtures helps all parties avoid misunderstandings about what is included in the sale.
Example of a Fixture in Action
The seller removed a built-in dishwasher after closing. The buyer argued it was a fixture, and legal action followed due to its permanent installation.
Key Takeaways
- Permanently attached to property.
- Typically included in a sale.
- Distinguished from movable chattels.
- Should be listed clearly in agreements.
- May lead to disputes if unclear.
Related Terms
- Chattel
- Agreement of Purchase and Sale
- Inclusions
- Exclusions
- Closing Process
6525 Mississauga Road and its surrounding context. (RBC Capital Markets & CBRE)
Property details for 6525 Mississauga Road. (RBC Capital Markets & CBRE)
National average resale-price growth and housing-starts growth, smoothed over three months. The comparison illustrates the cycle; it does not establish how much a price change causes construction to change.
Trailing 12-month starts in centres of 50,000 or more remove the usual monthly seasonality. Ownership combines the homeowner and condominium categories; rental is shown separately.
Six-month averages of provincial starts, expressed at annual rates. The smoothing reduces the influence of individual apartment projects.
The same August benchmark compared with two different starting points. Three-month changes are not annualized.
Average sale prices show the difference in purchase costs across markets. They do not measure affordability relative to local incomes or construction costs.
Newfoundland and Labrador remains above its pre-pandemic sales pattern, but August activity was below last year. Historical lines retain their original release vintages.
Average and median describe different aspects of the same month’s transactions. Both are affected by the mix of homes sold.
Category averages compare different homes and locations; the gaps are not estimates of the cost to upgrade an otherwise identical property.
The five categories shown account for 5,000 of the board’s 5,057 sales. The remaining 57 transactions were in other housing categories.
Monthly observations are not seasonally adjusted. Active listings count properties available at month-end; they are not construction inventory.
Average and median prices share one dollar axis. These unadjusted transaction measures do not control for changes in the homes sold.
TRREB’s 416/905 categories compare the apartments sold in each area. The difference does not isolate a location premium for equivalent units.
5680 Oak Street in Vancouver and its surrounding context. (MCMP Architects)
Ground-level renderings of the tower proposed for 5680 Oak Street in Vancouver. (MCMP Architects)