Police warn of downtown Toronto condo rental scam (ON)

Toronto police are warning the public about a rental scam having to do with condos in the downtown core.  Police issued a news release Friday detailing an alleged scam having to do with units located at 12 and 14 York St.     Read the entire article……………………………….

Condo Smarts: Storm season is here — is your strata corporation ready?

Q: Our strata corporation was unprepared for the recent rainstorms. We have gutter and roof cleaning scheduled for the first week of October, but several units suffered drywall and flooring damage during the rain cycle as owners had left their windows open for fresh air, and the rain overflowed down the walls into the units.  Read the […]

Condo manager faces fraud charges (ON)

A condominium manager in the Kitchener-Waterloo area is facing fraud charges in connection with alleged financial losses over $500,000, of which several condo corporations suffered from. The case emphasizes how seriously the Condominium Management Regulatory Authority of Ontario (CMRAO) deals with complaints against its licensees and the action that follows.   Read the entire article……………………………….

Cause of Brandon condo fire that caused $11M in damage revealed (MB)

A fire at a condominium complex in Brandon, Man., resulted in $11 million in damage, according to a spokesperson from the Manitoba Government.  The fire broke out on Tuesday night at the building in the 1400 block of Pacific Avenue, with firefighters working through the night and into Wednesday to extinguish the fire and put […]

Condo Smarts: Can council ask to see B.C. vaccine cards?

Dear Tony:  A notice has been issued by our strata council demanding disclosure of vaccine passports. Council insists this is a safety measure. It has not provided any evidence of where it gets this authority, what it intends to do with the information, how it intends to collect this information, who will have access to […]

‘The cost is all coming back to us’: Thousands in levies proposed to reopen beleaguered Saskatoon condo tower (SK)

Nearly five months after the condo’s closure, Knihnitski said the legal administration Clayton Barry, who was appointed by a Saskatoon’s Court of Queen’s Bench judge to start collecting condo fees and bring order to the affairs of the 44-unit condo tower,held a meeting with the remaining condo owners with a plan to re-open the tower.  […]

For how long will condo insurance rates continue to climb?

Rising condo insurance premiums will continue at least through the first two quarters of 2022, according to LowestRates.ca’s latest Home Insurance Price Index.  Condo insurance premiums are continuing to rise in Canada, sustaining a years-long increase, the rate comparison site said in a blog Wednesday. Condo rates are skyrocketing in British Columbia and Alberta in […]

Condo insurance surged in Q2 in B.C., Alberta

Condo insurance premiums are maintaining their elevated pace, which began around a year ago, as a consequence of extreme weather events, says LowestRates.ca.   Read the entire article……………………………….

Condo Smarts: Create a safety plan for your strata meetings (BC)

Dear Tony: Our strata council has planned to use our local church hall for our annual general meeting.  They have advised anyone attending will be required to provide proof of double vaccines more than 30 days prior to the meeting and that everyone must wear a mask if they are attending the meeting, or they […]

Extensive fire damage to Sylvan Lake condo building (AB)

Residents of Rainbow Park Condominium, in Sylvan Lake, woke up to the sound of sirens and a large structure fire early Sunday morning.  According to neighbors who witnessed the fire, it broke out at around 4:00 and The Sylvan Lake Fire Department were there right away.    Read the entire article……………………………….

Condo Smarts: Institutional memory critical to prevent losses (BC)

Dear Tony:  Our townhouse complex in Burnaby recently hired a roofing company to correct several leaks identified in the early spring storms. The contractor discovered a number of locations near the caps where the shingling was installed incorrectly. The error was easily remedied but required inspections of all roofs and cost our strata $6,500 of […]

Condo Smarts: Special levy must meet conditions of Strata Act (BC)

Dear Tony: Our strata corporation had a flood in our 52 unit building almost 2 years ago. It was caused by an owner who renovated their kitchen resulting from a breached water line from mounting screws. The leak was not noticed until the next morning and there was over $75,000 damages to 3 strata lots.  […]

Condo Smarts: Funding insurance deductibles by special levy (BC)

Under the Strata Property Act, a strata corporation is permitted to issue a special levy for the common expense of an insurance deductible without requiring a three-quarter vote at an annual or special general meeting.   Read the entire article……………………………….

Residents at Surrey condo complex evacuated as firefighters battle blaze

Residents have been evacuated as firefighters battle a blaze in Surrey tonight at a three-storey condominium complex at 70th Avenue and 138th Street.  Surrey Fire Service deputy chief Mark Griffioen said when firefighters arrived on scene after the call came in around 5:30, two units were initially on fire.   Read the entire article……………………………….

No relief in sight for condo insurance premiums

Condo insurance rates in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, which have already risen substantially, are expected to keep rising, according to a report from LowestRates.ca.    Read the entire article……………………………….

Mandatory training, funds among solutions for B.C. stratas

Every strata corporation suffers wear and tear on its capital. To account for that and plan an orderly replacement, each strata needs to have a plan as to the amount projected to be spent on capital replacement each year. In B.C., the Contingency Reserve Fund is intended to fund common expenses occurring less often than […]

Sandycove’s storm response ‘an inspiring example of what community means’ (ON)

One of the things that most impressed observers of the storm damage at Innisfil’s Sandycove Acres adult lifestyle community was the level of co-operation and teamwork while responding to the emergency.  As resident Linda Morris noted, “Between the actions of Parkbridge, the Sandycove Home Owners Association, the first-responders and the other residents not affected by […]

Condo Smarts: Existing buildings can be good investment (BC)

Dear Tony: We are retiring this year and considering downsizing to a condo. We have started looking at both new and existing properties around Vancouver and Victoria, but we encounter challenges with both options. New developments are often available only through presales and the time periods for completion would require us to sell, rent until […]

Strata security raises privacy concerns (BC)

B.C.’s privacy commissioner has told a Vancouver strata corporation to stop using security surveillance system data for purposes other than which it was collected.  And, the strata was told, some data collected through its door key fob system was inappropriate.    Read the entire article……………………………….

Your condo’s gym and pool may not be opening tomorrow, here’s why (ON)

Ontario is moving into Step 3 of the reopening plan tomorrow, allowing the use of indoor sports and recreational fitness facilities. And although many Toronto condo residents are itching to get back to using their building’s currently shuttered gym or pool, those amenities may not necessarily reopen right away.  Read the entire article……………………………….