Strata rules state the 56yo single mother must move out in Jan (BC)

A couple living at the Pointe strata complex in West Kelowna are disappointed they aren’t allowed to temporarily home a 56-year-old single mother, who will find herself homeless this January.  Michal Jansa and his wife met the Indigenous woman through mutual friends, and came to learn that she had arrived in Kelowna to start over, […]

Condo regulation changes (AB)

I thought it was important to highlight a bit of a “Christmas miracle” that happened recently at the Legislature. It should come as no surprise that the UCP and the NDP disagree with one another on many things. But last week, when I announced Service Alberta’s revisions to condo regulations that will come into force […]

Condo Forms About to Get a Lot Simpler! (ON)

Breaking news for anyone who has ever attempted to fill out one of the Government of Ontario’s condo forms!  The province has just announced that, as of January 1, 2020, the responsibility for 17 of the forms under the Condo Act will be delegated to the CAO, and will no longer be hosted on the […]

Condo fragrance ban doesn’t pass the smell test (ON)

For the common good, we’re all to be scent-free in public to accommodate those who suffer from fragrance allergies and environmental sensitivities. But surely the scent police shouldn’t be able to invade our private space, as well?  Ramesses Kane believes otherwise.    Read the article………………………….

Toronto’s big un-green condo problem (ON)

Marianne Touchie and Helen Stopps have spent a lot of time thinking about thermostats.  “Between Helen and I, I don’t know — hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of hours: it’s hard to put a number on it,” laughs Touchie, an assistant professor in the University of Toronto’s Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering.  The tiny […]

B.C. condo owners brace for sticker shock as insurance rates surge ’50 to 300%’

B.C. condo owners are bracing for sticker shock amid surging insurance rates for their homes.  “Rates are increasing for people in policies now anywhere from 50 to 300 per cent, and deductibles are going from the conventional $10,000 or $25,000 to $100,000, $250,000 or $500,000,” said Tony Gioventu, executive director of the Condominium Home Owners […]

Op/Ed: Do these Regulation Changes even matter without Enforcement and Tribunal? (AB)

For condo Owners who aren’t aware, advocates over the past several years have been pushing the Alberta government to amend present Condo Regulations to enhance consumer protection in order to swing the balance of scales/power between Condo Boards and Owners and create an equal playing field for both parties. It is/was argued by advocates that […]

Condo Smarts: Consultant can define scope of siding and deck project (BC)

Dear Tony: Is there anything in the Strata Act or legislation that requires a strata council to get three bids for projects of a certain value?  Our strata council is negotiating with a contractor to replace our siding and decks, and several owners are raising concerns about the price and reputation of the contractor.    Read […]

Icona condo buyers take developer to court over cancelled project (ON)

Buyers in the cancelled Icona condos are asking a court to find that developer Gupta Group breached its contract by failing to disclose that its Vaughan property was subject to a legal condition prohibiting it from selling homes on that piece of land.   Read the article………………………..

Condo Smarts: As insurance costs rise, stratas face deductible dilemma (BC)

Dear Tony: Our strata corporation renewed its insurance policy in October. Our deductible was increased to $100,000 from $25,000 and our policy premiums increased to $121,000 from $69,000.  The cost increase will result in an eight per cent increase in our annual budget without any other increases, but we are most concerned about the deductible […]

Alberta to review Condominium Property Regulation

The Alberta government has prioritized funds to review what it considers “ongoing dysfunction” in the province’s real estate industry, as announced in its recently released budget.    Read the article………………………..

Condo Smarts: Points to ponder for decisions on charging stations (BC)

Dear Tony: How does a strata council manage a request to install charging stations when the alterations to our electrical will exceed $100,000 and our owners will not fund the cost? Our council are in support of the installation of stations but we may require significant upgrades to support charging stations and the spaces were […]

B.C. looks to Ontario example in growing right-to-charge debate

British Columbia is taking steps to address the “right-to-charge” as tenants and building operators continue to grapple with the issue.  Over 40 per cent of British Columbians live in multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs). Unfortunately, rules and rights around home charging of EVs in shared buildings are murky.  Read the article………………………..

Condo Smarts: Requirement to accommodate wheelchair trumps bylaw (BC)

Dear Tony: As president of our strata, I am trying to prevent our strata council from taking a position that I am certain will result in either a complaint with the Civil Resolution Tribunal or a human rights complaint.  There are two townhomes for sale in our Maple Ridge complex, and in one of the […]

Cogeco cable lines frustrate East Windsor condo residents (ON)

Condo owners in east end development Essex Condo Corp. 3 on Vine Court are frustrated with Cogeco over cables that have been left strung through trees and across backyards for almost a year.  “This is just completely unacceptable,” said resident Greg Duguay, who has been fighting with the company since cables were left unburied since […]

Condo Smarts: What do you do when an elected strata president leaves? (BC)

Dear Tony: We have run into a problem with our strata council executive. At our annual meeting, we elected the president and the treasurer so the owners would have input into the positions.  Our president has just sold his strata lot and now we have no president and there is a dispute in our strata […]

Man’s claim of right to barbecue in winter dismissed by B.C. Human Rights Tribunal

Murray Obrand loves to barbecue.  He loves barbecue so much that cold weather doesn’t stop him from indulging in this treat.  In order to barbecue all year round, Obrand erected a heated gazebo outside his strata property.   That’s when he ran into some bit of trouble.  A neighbour complained to the strata corporation, and Obrand […]

Just what exactly are condo boards?

Many homebuyers who purchase a condo don’t realize until near closing on the deal that a condo board exists and operates in their potential new home.  So what exactly are condo boards and their function?    Read the article………………………..

Condo Smarts: Manager should not have deducted fine from account (BC)

Dear Tony: Several years ago, our strata corporation adopted a bylaw requiring owners to provide payments by automatic bank withdrawal.   At the time, several owners raised concerns about the strata corporation having access to their bank accounts, but were assured it was only for strata fees and nothing else. To make this simple, I opened […]

B.C. senior fears massive condo levy could force her out of her home

A Fraser valley senior facing an enormous condo levy fears she could be forced from her home if she can’t come up with the money.  86-year-old Mabel Olscamp has been living at Dogwood Manor in central Abbotsford for 26 years.  In June, the building’s strata council voted to move ahead with a $1.4-million project to […]

Condo Smarts: Owners entitled to see strata’s information about them (BC)

Dear Tony: Our strata council has engaged in some bizarre activities lately in how it holds council meetings and reports decisions to the owners.  Our bylaws have an unusual condition that relates to in-camera minutes. The bylaw stipulates that in-camera minutes are recorded and kept in a secret place unless there is a court order […]

Insure condos inside and out to protect investment (AB)

Sometimes with home insurance, we think we’re covered until we’re not.  Condominium owners can be particularly vulnerable to gaps in coverage, believing they’re fully protected by two insurance policies; their personal policy and that of the condo corporation that manages ownership of the common property.   Read the article………………

Condo Smarts: Walk the buildings to fix strata lot mix-up (BC)

Dear Tony: We have an unusual problem in our strata corporation.  We have 308 units in several buildings. Several owners have approached council with a complaint that their strata fees are not correct and want to know how to change them.   Read the Q&A………………………….