The ability of unit owners to access records may be the area most affected by the legislative changes. Up until now, the process by which owners requested and obtained (or were denied!) access to records has been unregulated. The legislative changes introduce new procedures, terms and forms. The following is a high level overview of these changes, but rest assured we could fill five articles with discussion just about records!
Over the past twenty-five years in the industry, working with both highrise condominium managers and boards, and the commercial building sector, I can say that the HVAC in a building is often overlooked in terms of ensuring that the equipment runs efficiently with as little owner/tenant downtime as possible.
I moved into my first and only condominium approximately five years ago. It is an eleven-storey building located on the edge of the core downtown area. My wife and I were part of the first wave of residents moving into the 114 units. For many, this was their first time owning a condominium. It seemed a good number had owned and lived in condominiums previously.
People want to do the right thing; we as managers just need to make it easier for them. Small changes in the environment and systems can often have significant effect on peoples’ behaviour.
This is the first case of its kind to confirm that condo boards now have the tools to protect property managers from workplace harassment. (Finally! Good news for proper ty manager s ! ) . Although the condo brought an application to restrain an owner’s disruptive behaviour, more immediate action was required. The owner in York Condominium Corporation No. 288 v Rabie and Weinroth was harassing, threatening, and even assaulted the property pending the hearing of the application on its merits.
It starts innocently enough: An owner in your building breezes in with the news that she’s planning to put some decking and lighting on the balcony. “No problem, right?” she says.
Money spent on the best landscape design and best stones will be wasted if the brand-new driveway shows wear after just a few years. Especially if it needs to be re-done again within the owners’ memory! Good engineering design saves you money.
Every individual is exactly that… an individual. We all come from varied backgrounds of unique experiences that form who we are, what we value and why we do the things we do. We want to feel included, understood, appreciated and most of all heard.
This question is raised more often these days by building owners and property managers when their building is visited by fire inspectors. Understanding your responsibility for fire safety and taking steps to mitigate risk is important.
Starting a property management company is no small feat. It takes courage, strength, energy and, most of all, creativity. We opened Whitehill Residential with all the best intentions – to take what we have learned from working in the industry over many years to create a business of “best practices.”
I have been involved with condominiums since 1973 as a condominium owner and served as a board member on three different condominium corporations where I have lived over the years. I began taking courses to provide insight into complex realities of the then “new” condominium living and the necessity of becoming involved in the community. I started a condominium property management firm in late 1979.
People are concerned about the environment and there are many “green” government initiatives that are intended to help “save our environment”. People also want to save money. Going green and lowering utility costs is a way to do it and lowering costs also improves affordability and market value.
Eighty dead, another seventy injured, and over three hundred people homeless. Many say that the Grenfell Tower apartment fire in London, England was a disaster just waiting to happen. One must wonder, “Could such a fire happen here in Ontario?”
Patterson v. York Condominium Corporation No. 70, 2018 ONSC 3735
Managers are likely familiar with the horror stories of condominium corporations being defrauded and, unfortunately, some of you may have experienced this first-hand. But, my guess is that the vast majority of you have only seen a limited number of examples of fraud, if any. With the enactment of the Condominium Management Services Act, it appears that there is more legislated responsibility being placed upon property managers to be increasingly vigilant for potential improprieties.
