About 15 per cent of Ontario households currently live in condominiums and more than half of new homes being built in the province are also condominium units. There are 900,000 condominium units in the province that are managed by 11,000 condo corporations and some units that are more than 30 years old are starting to […]
Elevators out in 20-storey West End condo tower? Call the fire department (BC)
Strata manager’s note says maintenance company troubleshooting the problem, but adds ‘currently no diagnosis nor ETA for the elevator service to be restored’ Read the article………………………..
City orders extensive facade restoration at Madison House condo tower (OH)
Cincinnati’s building department has ordered the Madison House condominium tower to repair all leaks in the 19-story building’s windows, balconies and façade, threatening to impose quarterly fees if violations are not corrected within 60 days. Read the article………………………..
Tips for Reviewing Construction Contracts for Your HOA
A former construction company executive earned a 15 years prison sentence for his role in a scheme to control homeowners associations and took $58 million fraudulently. Often, homeowners association board members fall into the trap of inadvertently and unknowingly signing biased construction contracts. Read the article………………………..
High-Rise Maintenance Tips Your HOA Should Follow
High-rise buildings have unique and sometimes challenging maintenance obligations. An essential responsibility of the association is to ensure that the community is maintained to the highest possible standard, focusing on safety and appearance. Read the article………………………..
“Heading for a Disaster”: Condos Underfunded for Multimillion-Dollar Repairs (ON)
It’s not a “What if?” scenario — it’s already happening. And condo owners need to know big building costs are coming. There are two problems here, says Lyndsey McNally, Vice President at the Canadian Condominium Institute. One: There’s a very good chance your condominium corporation doesn’t have enough in its reserve fund to pay for […]
New Tilting Prompts Revamp of San Francisco’s Millennium Tower Fix (CA)
NBC Bay Area’s Investigative Unit has learned that a recent acceleration in tilting of the Millennium Tower has prompted engineers in charge of the so-called “fix” to employ an unconventional strategy to prop up the building so as to stop it from leaning further while the rest of the work gets done. Read the article………………………….
HOA Roof Replacement Guidelines To Follow
Living in a homeowners association comes with plenty of advantages, such as improved curb appeal and increased property values. But, it also means having to adhere to the community’s rules and seek approval for architectural changes. This includes an HOA roof replacement. Read the article…………………………
Mandatory Condominium & Cooperative Building Inspections and Non-Waivable Reserve Requirements | SENATE BILL 4-D (FL)
With home insurers leaving Florida in droves, and following pressure from members of both political parties in the legislature to actually do something about it, in May 2022, the governor called a special legislative session to address the problem. A very real concern to the insurers is the effect of both time and inclement weather […]
Who is responsible for repairing damaged insulation in a condominium?
Q: My condominium association has repeatedly repaired our roof. It has also paid for repainting parts of the ceiling in my unit on multiple occasions. I live on the top floor of a five-story building. Whose responsibility is it to replace rain-damaged ceiling insulation? Read the Q&A……………………………….
Federal Surfside condo collapse investigation enters new phase (FL)
The federal investigation into the deadly Surfside condo collapse is entering a new phase that involves cutting and drilling into concrete and steel to determine what role they played in the disaster, officials said Wednesday. Read the entire article……………………………….
Federal investigators talk about Surfside condo collapse probe (FL)
Investigators with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) said the point of the probe is to not only find out what happened and who may be responsible for this deadly collapse, but it’s also to prevent similar tragedies at other high-rises. Read the entire article……………………………….
Waukesha condo owners out thousands as city orders building to be torn down (WI)
“It’s all on the building insurance,” Nieskes said. “We can’t cover your unit because everything technically in your unit is fine. There was no water damage, no fire damage. It’s the building that is the cause of why you have to be out, so you have to take it up with the building insurance company.” Read […]
The New Cond Laws—-Mandatory Inspections—Part One (FL)
If a community association manager or a community association management firm has a contract with a community association that has a building on the association’s property that is subject to s. 553.899, (the Mandatory Inspections statute) the community association manager or the community association management firm must comply with that section as directed by the […]
After the Surfside condo tragedy, engineers, contractors and local lawmakers are partnering to prevent a similar situation (FL)
Florida’s population has jumped from around 3 million in 1950 to more than 22 million people today—and this number has continued to skyrocket since the pandemic. Between July 2020 and July 2021, Florida became second in the country for most residents gained, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. As demand for housing rises, so do […]
Waukesha condo collapse threat, Horizon West raze order,120-day deadline (WI)
A big step has been taken regarding the future of Waukesha’s troubled Horizon West condos, one that could soon trigger the wrecking ball. The raze order we’ve been hearing about for months is now officially in effect. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condo termination, teardown in store for Edgewater property following $143M sale
Two Roads Development has bought out the majority of the Biscayne 21 condo in the Edgewater neighborhood of Miami for $143 million with plans to tear it down and build a luxury condo. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condo’s prepare for safety inspections in Boca Raton (FL)
City officials say they are dividing the city into four zones, putting the buildings closest to the ocean with the proper height and age requirements first in line for the recertification program. Read the entire article……………………………….
How To Prioritize Building Improvement Projects In Your HOA
When it comes to building improvement projects, your HOA doesn’t only need to know what maintenance jobs should be done down the line, but also when they need to be done. Knowing how to prioritize maintenance jobs will not only ensure that issues are always dealt with promptly and professionally, but will keep residents happy […]
Waterfront condo building in Tequesta deemed ‘unsafe,’ evacuated. What happened? (FL)
Residents of 24 waterfront condominiums along Tequesta’s waterfront have had to live in temporary quarters for the past three weeks after the village’s fire chief discovered cracks in the building’s columns and ordered them to evacuate. Read the entire article……………………………….
At Last, Co-op and Condo Boards Get Something for Free From the DOB (NY)
New York City co-op and condo boards have grown accustomed to the high cost of complying with a never-ending deluge of new city rules — widely derided as “unfunded mandates” — but during May the city is flipping the the script by offering no-cost, no-penalty inspections of decks, porches, retaining walls and business signs. Read […]
HOA Preparedness: Preventing Water Damage
It’s finally springtime, which means flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and the rain will soon be pouring. And all that rain can lead to one thing: water damage. If you’re an HOA board member, it’s essential to prepare your community association for the rainiest season. Read the entire article……………………………….
Caution! Flooring Penetrations May Result in Structural Issue (CA)
Many of our multi-story condominium communities are wood framed with wood flooring. Most high-rise communities are concrete structures with concrete flooring. Whether wood or concrete, flooring is an integral part of the structural integrity of the building. Read the entire article……………………………….
Cost Going Up: Co-op’s Elevator Modernization Brings Surprises (NY)
Elevator work is always a major headache for boards and residents, but you recently ran into a very unexpected problem on what you thought was a routine job. Read the entire article……………………………….
Federal Legislation Supports Condo Structural Repairs
U.S. Reps. Charlie Crist (D-St. Petersburg) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Broward, Miami-Dade) introduced the Securing Access to Finance Exterior Repairs (SAFER) in Condos Act of 2022 yesterday. The legislation, a response to the partial collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Fla., on June 24 in which 98 people died, allows condominium homeowners to finance […]
Southwest line construction wasn’t a major factor in condo damage, board told (MN)
Construction of the Southwest light-rail line in the Kenilworth corridor of Minneapolis had little to do with the cracking that surfaced this winter in floors and walls of the nearby Cedar Isles condominium towers, according to a forensic engineering firm. Read the entire article……………………………….
Tequesta building evacuated after columns show ‘significant deterioration and cracking’ (FL)
People who live at a building in Tequesta are out of their homes and trying to make arrangements about where to live after their building was evacuated, Wednesday. The village deemed it “unsafe for occupancy” after columns showed “significant deterioration and cracking.” Read the entire article……………………………….
Civil Code § 5551 and Complying with Safety Inspection Requirements of Balconies (CA)
On August 30, 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 326 into law. This law, which went into effect on January 2020, added §5551 to California’s Civil Code. The added section imposes inspection requirements for “exterior elevated elements” which a common interest development’s association has maintenance or repair responsibilities. This requirement does not apply to […]
City funds come to the rescue of ‘troubled buildings (IL)
The vintage condo building on Crandon Avenue in South Shore is in frightful straits. It needs at least $1.5 million to repair a crumbling facade and upgrade pipes. The homeowners association doesn’t have enough cash reserves to fund needed repairs. And the residents, mostly seniors on fixed incomes, are behind in paying monthly assessments. The […]
Major work being done at The 101 Condominium in Sarasota, formerly known as Dolphin Tower (TN)
There are much brighter days ahead for The 101 Condominium complex on the Sarasota Bayfront, formerly known as Dolphin Tower. The parking garage will be completely redone, including structural improvements where crews will strengthen the connection between the columns and decks. Painting and waterproofing of the entire building are also part of this $3 million […]
So many fire escapes in Boston haven’t been inspected, putting owners, occupants, and buyers at risk (MA)
On July 22, 1975, in Boston, 19-year-old Diana Bryant and her 2-year-old goddaughter Tiare Jones fled a blaze in a Marlborough Street building by climbing onto the fire escape. It collapsed before firefighters could reach them. Bryant died, but the child, who landed on her, survived. A photojournalist snapped chilling photos of the pair falling […]
Problem Solved: What To Do When the Lone Elevator Goes Down (NY)
When a building’s lone elevator goes out of commission, it can be a nightmare. A big issue can be financing the repairs. You’ve had experience with both of these challenges at an HDFC co-op in Hamilton Heights. Can you tell us about it Read the entire article……………………………….
Parking garage at former Dolphin Tower, once shut down and evacuated, to undergo major repairs (FL)
More than 10 years after the then-named Dolphin Tower condominium in downtown Sarasota shut down because of structural problems that forced residents to evacuate, the tower will once again have to undergo major repairs that could affect both the residents and retail tenants on the property. Read the entire article……………………………….
Bronx Co-op Board Gets Free Money to Fix Its Building Envelope (NY)
For Peter Morello and his six fellow board members at the Thwaites Terrace House co-op in the Bronx, it was manna from heaven at the perfect time. The five-story, 132-unit brick building near the New York Botanical Garden needed extensive work on its roof, parapets, facades and lintels — about $600,000 worth. How to pay […]
45-year-old Shoreline Towers needs $20 million renovation. Why are condo owners ‘disgruntled?’ (FL)
A review of plans to offset costs associated with a multi-million dollar renovation of the aging Shoreline Towers condominium complex has sparked worries and calls for emergency action from members of the homeowner’s association board. Read the entire article……………………………….
Older Condo Residents Impacted by Stricter Rules (FL)
Virginia Ponce hasn’t been able to return to her fourth-floor condo in Flagami since leaving her home of 21 years in August under a city-ordered evacuation, after inspectors determined the eight-story tower was unsafe due to damaged columns. Ponce, 77, moved in with her daughter in southwest Miami-Dade. Months later, she’s hoping an overhaul of […]
No injuries reported as coverings give way at Port Hueneme condominium building (CA)
Fire crews responded Sunday morning to the collapse of a large swath of wooden and stucco patio coverings over multiple balconies at a Port Hueneme condominium building. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condo shoppers beware: Balcony law could cost you thousands of dollars after you buy (CA)
Almost six years to the day before 98 people died last June 24 in South Florida’s Champlain Towers condo collapse, six people died in Berkeley when an apartment balcony gave way and fell 50 feet to the ground. Read the entire article……………………………….
Maintaining Aging Buildings – Older Structures Have Special Concerns
Nothing lasts forever, even with good maintenance—including most building components. Exterior elements are perhaps most subject to wear and tear in any climate. Their construction and material type dictate their maintenance needs and repair schedules; masonry façades clearly have different needs than wood or clapboard fronts. But with a good care program and a bit […]
Building Inspections – Up & Down, Inside & Out
Car owners know that in order to operate their vehicle legally, they must have it professionally inspected every year. An older car might need some relatively minor repairs or adjustments to bring it into compliance with state emissions requirements, but for most, getting that mandatory approval sticker is a simple, inexpensive, predictable process that takes […]
New Letter Slid Under Doors At Atlantic City’s Ocean Club Condos (NJ)
We have obtained a copy of the latest letter sent to owners and residents at Atlantic City, New Jersey’s Ocean Club Condominiums. Although the public perception may be otherwise, make no mistake about it … The Ocean Club management has been very transparent throughout all of the various issues that we have been reporting about: […]
Balcony doors at Atlantic City condo complex screwed shut as safety precaution (NJ)
An Atlantic City condo complex that told residents to stay off their balconies because it is dangerous, is now taking an additional step to keep residents safe. On Monday, management at the Ocean Club Condominiums screwed the balcony doors shut. Read the entire article……………………………….
Surfside collapse exposes an overlooked threat: Saltwater rising from underground
Not long after a condo tower collapsed in Surfside, Florida, last June, Randall Parkinson had what he calls an epiphany. Parkinson, a coastal geologist who studies the impact of climate change at Florida International University in Miami, wondered whether rising sea levels had driven saltwater into the ground beneath the tower, corroding its concrete foundation. […]
Exec: Aging condos like the one that fell in Surfside need financial watchdogs
Aging condos in Florida should be certified as safe every three years, not every 10 and certainly not every 40 as required in current law, said an executive with the finance company that warned of impending disaster before the June 2021 collapse of a 12-story condo in Surfside. Read the entire article……………………………….
So many fire escapes in Boston haven’t been inspected. What this means if you own a home or buy (MA)
On July 22, 1975, in Boston, 19-year-old Diana Bryant and her 2-year-old goddaughter Tiare Jones fled a blaze in a Marlborough Street building by climbing onto the fire escape. It collapsed before firefighters could reach them. Bryant died, but the child, who landed on her, survived. A photojournalist snapped chilling photos of the pair falling […]
Condo Board Goes in for Early Detection of Water Leaks (NY)
Ask any co-op or condo board member or their property manager to name the biggest headache they get from their building, and the answer is guaranteed: water leaks. Whether it comes through the building envelope or passes from one apartment to another (or many), water is Enemy No. 1. A condo board in Toronto — […]
Residents of Atlantic City condo complex told to stay off balconies due to structural issues (NJ)
A towering condo complex in Atlantic City is warning residents to stay off their balconies because of structural concerns. Those who live in the Ocean Club Condominiums, located along the Atlantic City Boardwalk, say that they are frustrated. Read the entire article……………………………….
County toughens building recertification process to improve condo safety (FL)
Last week, Miami-Dade County commissioners unanimously approved a motion on the first reading of an ordinance that revises procedures and bolsters the existing building recertification code, providing an increased layer of safety to condo residents. Read the entire article……………………………….
DCRA cites Homeowners’ Association President for creating a ‘hazard to life and safety’ in SE condos (DC)
Saturday, a resident recorded cellphone video of Homeowners Association President Marcus Little seemingly violating District building code by tearing down a Stop Work Order placed there by housing inspectors last week. Residents said Mr. Little left the building in such disrepair refusing to use their association fees to fix the growing problems. Read the entire […]
Condo cracks appear during construction of the Southwest light rail line (MN)
Construction of a tunnel for the Southwest light-rail line in a narrow stretch of Minneapolis’ Kenilworth corridor may have led to cracking in walls and floors at the nearby Calhoun Isles condominum towers. Read the entire article……………………………….