If there is one thing that has been consistent over the past year in the condominium industry, it is legislative change. It has permeated almost every aspect of how we build, work with and live in condominiums.

When I was asked to write an article on the benefits of the mandatory Director Training and the benefits that it provides to the boards and management I thought it best that I actually take the training so I knew more about that which I was asked to write.

Q: As a regional owner, and ACMO2000 executive, what is your experience of amendments under the new Condo Act? The amendments have brought about many challenges. As with any change, this is expected until all stakeholders can get into the new regime. 

Anyone who works in condominiums has heard it said before, “access to records is the single largest cause for disputes in condominiums…”.

For those of us that live in condominiums or have the responsibility of managing them, rules are another way that condominium corporations protect us and our investment. Like other rules of life, they may at times seem intrusive, while at other times seem like common sense.

Across the country, Canadian consumers have legal rights that cover the most common consumer transactions including product purchases, many service contracts and other basic and big-ticket business dealings. Consumers who are unsatisfied with certain purchases they have made, or who feel they may have been ripped off or wronged by a vendor or business, can lodge formal complaints at both the federal and provincial levels.

With condominiums in Ontario now past the 50-year mark, we can look back at three defining periods of procurement processes. From 1967 to the early 1990s, condominium managers need only follow the Condominium Act (Act), their management agreements and their own guiding principles for direction.

In the late winter we all begin to prep for the spring rush of service calls and bookings that need to be done, and owners are throwing open their blinds and realizing how they too need to freshen up their space and get ready for summer. 

The Public Registry provides basic information about condominium managers and management companies, such as their legal name, licence number, status of their licence, and current employer. In the future, it could include additional information required under regulation.

Are condominium managers being penalized by resident retaliation? This may sound absurd, but it is a reality that managers may face on a daily basis. Huh? Daily basis… Sometimes managers think that “pain” is part of the job description. Really? It should not be.

It would be trite to say climate change [CC] is perceived differently around the world, but it’s true … and while some political leaders may be deniers of convenience and some in the global manufacturing market may be willfully blind to the effects of greenhouse gases [GHG] and particularly CO2, the climate data is pretty clear. 

Rooftop generators: The Grange spent zero upfront capital for what is, essentially, its own mini power plant that provides unlimited backup power and greener electricity, without the burden of ownership or maintenance.

Regular attendees of condo board meetings will know about climate change. Mounting energy bills and maintenance repairs are often bandied about, offering a glimpse of life on the environmental rollercoaster that’s barreling forward.

Anne Burgoon, RCM points out that creative landscaping helps direct water away from townhouse foundations.

Did you know utility costs are the largest variable expense condominium managers can influence? Energy efficiency retrofits can help you reduce them significantly, but many condo managers hesitate to undertake them. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits and how to plan your own retrofit project.