Condominium Manager Magazine

Suppose you are a property manager or board member of a condominium corporation. A unit owner refuses to comply with its obligations under the Condominium Act, 1998, S.O. 1998 c. 19 (the “Act”). What are your options? This scenario came before the Ontario Court of Appeal in the recent decision of Halton Condominium Corporation No 61 v. Kolarovaliev, 2024 ONCA 848 (“Halton Condominium”), which involved a dispute between a resident and the condominium corporation over a no smoking rule.

In today's technology-driven lifestyle, enhancing digital automation has become a priority for increasing efficiency and boosting resident engagement. Cutting-edge automation technology now allows the automation of multiple tasks, such as scheduling repairs, monitoring building systems and communications with residents. This timely, automated approach can result in faster response times and improved resident experience while lowering operational costs.

When a cardiac emergency strikes, time is everything. A person can experience sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) without warning signs. Survival rates decrease by 7–10% for every minute that defibrillation is delayed for a person experiencing SCA. Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) have long been recognized as essential life-saving tools in public places, including residential buildings.

Condominiums today face security challenges such as theft, unauthorized access, property damage, and illegal activities — sometimes by owners, residents, or visitors. To address this, many condominium boards are adopting modern technologies that combine artificial intelligence ("AI"), cybersecurity, and real-time human response to create safer living environments. Three key technologies helping to prevent crime are intelligent smoke alarms, AI-powered CCTV cameras, and integrated video monitoring with a security response team.

With technology and the internet within reach at any given time, the expectations for the immediacy with which you can get information, answers to your questions, or even products delivered to your homes have drastically changed. And how that information is delivered has changed, too. People want an app for everything.

As a condo property manager, your job involves juggling countless tasks — from daily operations to ensuring your building's community thrives. Yet, one of the most crucial responsibilities is helping the condo board make smart, long-term decisions that ensure the property's well-being. One of the most challenging areas often lies in vendor selection.

Condominiums are more than just buildings. They are communities built on trust, security, and stability. Behind the scenes, a dedicated team of site staff, led by a licensed condominium manager, ensures that daily operations run smoothly, emergencies are prevented or managed effectively, and residents feel safe in their homes.

Condominium boards are the backbone of residential communities. They juggle everything from budgets and bylaws to keeping the peace among neighbours, and while the role can be rewarding, it's far from risk-free. Board meetings, in particular, are often pressure cookers where tempers can boil over.

As urban living continues to rise, so does the importance of effective risk management in high-rise buildings. Across Ontario, condo boards led by innovative property management companies are leveraging technology to enhance safety and operational effectiveness. This article delves into their vision and their transformative impacts on safety, compliance, operations and, more importantly, documented evidence of their commitment to community safety. Let's look at a small sample of the key players leading the charge in the last 12 months – right here in Ontario...

In the property management industry, where everything is intensely competitive, a critical question is whether or not a property manager is entitled to switch from one property management company to another and, at the same time, continue servicing the same condominium building with the property manager's new employer...

We've all been there at some point, or heard the stories of a dysfunctional condo board. Whether it's unclear expectations, too many meetings, lack of leadership or toxic in-fighting, it's a situation no property manager wants to face. Regrettably, these scenarios are far too common and lead to manager burnout and turnover.

For decades, urban and suburban centres across Ontario have been reshaped by sprouting towers and low-rise townhome residential units, many of them condominiums. The goal has been to accommodate a rapidly growing population with denser urban planning and construction, resulting in a surge of new condo residences. But what happens when there aren’t enough qualified property managers available to help management companies ensure the success of these communities?

Along with the rise in fatal residential home fires, in 2023, we have seen a 10% increase in fires in high-rise residential buildings. With our people and buildings at higher risk than ever since smoke alarms became mandatory, what changes can we expect?

Condominium residential communities require efficient management and security measures to ensure the safety and well-being of their residents. In this regard, condo security guards and concierge staff play a vital role. This article delves into the training provided to these professionals, exploring how their expertise and preparedness enable them to effectively manage emergencies and mitigate legal situations in partnership with property managers and the board of directors.

Condominium property managers and board directors face various challenges when selecting the perfect construction process and company for their common area refurbishment projects. With this article, I intend to take a lighthearted journey with you down the rabbit hole of condominium refurbishment.