Governance
The line between a condo and a rental building
In his book, The Condo Bible, Dan Barnabic explains the problems associated with having too many rental units in condo buildings.
Continuous rise of reserve fund contributions
There are many reasons why contribution levels must increase, including unexpected issues, rising costs ...
Choosing condo board members
It's important that unit owners pick the right people to serve on the condo board, especially since the corporation's multi-million dollar budget is in the hands of volunteers.
Landlords beware of rental property risks
Alberta's Condominium Property Act has some provisions that address tenancies in condominium units, which will prevail in ...
U.S. flag flap raises important question
A recent U.S. case has raised the issue of whether a condo owner has the right to display a flag in their unit window.
Responding to enforcement letters
Many condominium disputes can be resolved a lot sooner and for much less money if unit owners simply respond to ...
Smoking ignites conflict in condos
With people more aware of the health dangers of second-hand smoke, there are more conflicts between smokers and ...
Proceed with caution when entering units
A condo board may gain access to an owner's unit under select circumstances, not on suspicion the owner is breaking ...
Mandatory qualifications for condo managers
The Ontario government has given the "green light" to mandatory qualifications for condominium managers.
The scoop on pets in condos
Condo owners often ask about various issues relating to pets, particularly if certain pets are permitted to reside in a building. The first thing a condo board ...
The legalities of emergency management
Emergency management includes four interdependent risk-based functions, according to Public Safety Canada. These are: prevention, preparedness, ...
Shattered condo balconies
Between May and August 2011, five panels of glass fell from balcony guards on the Festival Tower, a 41-storey condominium in downtown Toronto that was completed in 2010. Since then, residents of the Festival Tower have launched ...
Annual funded ratio
A good way to assess the health of a reserve fund is to use an annual funded ratio (AFR) – the three-year moving average from the reserve fund starting ...
Dysfunctional boards
Dysfunctional condominium boards are characterized by the inability or unwillingness of directors to work together for the benefit of the condo corporation and the owners who elected them. The reasons for the dysfunction are complex ...
Falling glass can cause legal headaches
In Ontario, it is unclear which statutory warranty period applies to the occurrence of falling glass given the lack of specific case law and Tarion direction.
