Condominium Manager Magazine

This article provides an introductory guide for the two main types of EVCS installations; by the condominium corporation on the common elements for shared use and by unit owners in their own parking spaces. It also provides practical advice so that you can be well-prepared for the growing demand for electric vehicle charging in multiple-dwelling residential buildings.

The pandemic continues to have a significant impact on our industry with little end in sight. We are all aware that almost all sectors that service our communities face employment challenges. Service providers from management companies, to accounting firms, to security companies and plumbing companies; most have reported that they are understaffed.

The paper tools that we once used for so many purposes have, by and large, given way to digital alternatives that we now use every day and take for granted. Yet many condominium corporations, and the property management companies that serve them, are still using paper bills and cheques to pay their suppliers.

Smart Building Control Systems are generating a lot of buzz these days, with fancy terms like “cloud control,” “AI-driven,” and “carbon negative” to contemporize decades-old technology as the next fad for today’s condo owners. Digital devices have come a long way with technological capabilities and, more importantly, lower fees to purchase and maintain devices and software.

The City of Toronto’s Net-Zero Existing Buildings Strategy has set the stage for all existing buildings in Toronto to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net-zero by 2050. To reach this important goal, all existing buildings will have to be significantly transformed and retrofitted.

The new regime gives the contractor and sub-contractors a method to ensure payment is made when it is rightfully due, without terminating the contract for non-payment and walking off-site.

The two most common methods of renovating an existing condominium building are hiring one team that does both design and construction or hiring a designer first and then tendering the contractor afterwards. It sounds easy. Yet, under this apparent simplicity lies a web so intricate and complex that boards can rarely cut through all the fine print with confidence and ensure a reliable service for their owners.

With more people working from home and experiencing pandemic-related cost sensitivity, condominiums are now challenged to support the increased reliance on common elements and amenities and show residents that their fees are being spent wisely to improve the community.

Grease and sludge build-up have been shown to cause millions of dollars of insurance claims and damaged property throughout the high-rise condominium industry.

A condominium is more than a mere asset; it is possibly the largest investment the owner will ever make; and, more importantly, it is their home. Understandably, condominium boards and owners want the best for their homes, and that extends to how they are managed.

Does your condominium have a proper plan in place for reserve fund expenses? Condominium boards are often unaware that the planning you do above and beyond your reserve fund study will save time and money. 

Communication has always been important for condo communities, but it’s even more essential now. If you are reopening your gym to residents, how will you ensure they are up-to-date on the latest rules or policies? How will you ensure overcrowding doesn’t occur? Using a safe and accessible form of digital communication, boards and property managers can safely reopen gyms and other facilities and allow residents to run, lift, and sweat again.

Virtual meetings have gone from a begrudged necessity to a comfortable new norm. With many of the technical difficulties associated with virtual meetings ironed out over the last year, condominium corporations are now finding that their processes can carry on as normal despite the limitations on gathering in-person.

The pandemic has forced all of us to make dramatic changes in our personal and professional lives, and condominium corporations are no exception. Board members, managers and unit owners have been forced to fundamentally change how they go about conducting business in their communities – holding meetings in person is no longer feasible, nor is expecting owners to cast their vote in person.

Chargeback claims against a unit owner often turn into a dispute unless clearly documented evidence and adherence to a set of chargeback procedures can convince the owner that the corporation’s claim is valid. Two recent cases highlight the need to take care.