Tag Archives: high maintenance fees

Building a Better Condo Act

Posted on October 27, 2021 by | Comments Off on Building a Better Condo Act

Stronger Ontario Building Codes to keep Condo Owners Safe

If we go back to the time when Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister, Kathleen Wynne announced changes to strengthen the Ontario building code to help prevent balcony glass of newly constructed buildings from breaking and keep Ontarians safe in high-rise buildings.

http://news.ontario.ca/mah/en/2012/06/ontario-strengthens-requirements-for-balcony-glass.html

While this initiative is an excellent start, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing needs to address the inefficiencies of the New Home Warranty Program and Tarion Warranties for new construction and the limited 1-2 years warranties on existing buildings. These warranties do not protect the value of a $80 Million dollar condo building when the time period and list of coverages are similar to those of a single family dwelling. There needs to be a separate coverage to address multi-family residential condominium buildings. Continue reading →

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Posted in FYI, The Condo Act

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Bad Property Management or Bad Board of Directors??

Posted on May 2, 2021 by | Comments Off on Bad Property Management or Bad Board of Directors??

It is common for Condo Owners to be angry with the Property Managers blaming them for not returning their phones calls and/or not resolving their problems.  Property Managers ignore their requests for help;  frustrations develop and Condo Owners become angry and hostile towards Property Management.

Condo Owners are barking up the wrong tree.

The Board of Directors are to blame because they have the power.  The Board controls all of the operations of the building which includes contracts and all service related trades.  They approve Property Management contracts and the Property Management company designates a Property Manager to the building to do as the Board says at all expense because they want to ensure their contracts.  There is alot of money involved;  many of these contracts can range from $120,000 to $300,000 depending on the size and amount of buildings involved.  It is a very serious stake in the Condominium World but one that has created major controversy of responsibility because even though these Firms are paid by the Corporation they report to the Board and in most cases believe they represent the Board.

Be wary of getting into arguments with Property Management because once they report back to the Board of Directors;  chances are you will have more even more problems afterall it is the Board who is instructing Property Management to ignore your requests.    If you have a good Board – it would never get this far.

How do Condo Owners know if their Board is operating in compliance to the Condo Act?    The $1 Million dollar question can be answered only if Condo Owners start taking responsibility and learn about Condos, watch their Boards and speak out if they feel things are wrong.  Until then;  Owners will suffer the consequences of disputes, theft, fraud and a serious problems with their Board of Directors.

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Posted in Condo Issues, Condo Property Management, The Condo Act

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