“I can’t see out of the windows!” is a familiar complaint managers and board members receive from angry residents because their windows are dripping with condensation. Water vapour drips down the glass and pools on the sill, paint peels, and the casement is damaged. On occasion, it may even cause the formation of the dreaded “M” word — mould!

What if I told you that technology and digitization are also evolving into something as mundane as elevators? Would you be shocked, or would you see this as normal and expected?

The wrath of COVID-19 will continue to have a significant impact on many sectors of society – unlike any other health crisis before. It has left an indelible mark on our work, our state of mental and physical health while ushering in a new normalcy in our day-to-day lives.

Condominium life doesn’t get put on hold during a worldwide health crisis. If anything, clear communication and nimble decision-making become paramount when the global situation and business landscape can change hour by hour. Add to the mix the spring AGM season and the challenges may seem insurmountable.

From a qualification perspective, condominium board members are typically not licensed brokers, risk managers nor insurance professionals. They are people from varying backgrounds, bringing different views to the table. 

Airbnb and other short-term rentals have been a hotly debated topic of discussion in Toronto and other major metropolitan cities, nearly since its inception in 2008. It is argued that the many conveniences offered by STRs, including their often reasonable prices and locations, have come at the expense of other residents in the City of Toronto, including those who reside nearby to STR units.

The fundamental problem, I believe, is that condominium insurance just isn’t sufficiently profitable for the insurers. I think the reason is that the premiums are based on the risk of large claims (say, insured losses of $100,000 or more) … and in actual practice condominium corporations often have many smaller claims.

It has been common practice in the condominium industry for a condominium corporation to chargeback these legal costs to the non-compliant owner; however, a recent case of the Superior Court of Justice has some in the Ontario condo industry taking the position that these chargebacks are no longer permissible, absent a court order.

There are major changes to the old Construction Lien Act that will significantly affect Ontario condominiums. Amendments have been passed that will modernize the Act, help ensure that businesses and workers get paid on time, and help ensure that payment disputes are addressed quickly.