Condominium Manager Magazine

Maybe it isn’t a problem to be solved; maybe it’s a paradigm to be managed. A paradigm is a standard, or frame work, or a set of ideas. As I commuted to yet another meet ing, as we all do, I came across this quote in a podcast I was listening to featuring Brene Brown and Esther Perel (I adore each and recommend all of their content by the way). If I were reading a book, I would have dog-eared the corner or highlighted the phrase. This one sentence struck me as the key to better everything in Condoland.

Condominium living embodies a delicate balance between individual rights and collective harmony, a balance often tested when residents exhibit extreme behavior which might be linked to mental health factors. While empathy and accommodation are vital, recent Ontario case law underscores a stark reality: when actions threaten communal safety, legal intervention is not just warranted but imperative.

The condominium lifestyle offers unique advantages, including convenience, shared amenities, and a sense of community. However, high-density living can also present distinct challenges. Noise disputes, interpersonal conflicts, and feel ings of isolation can arise, creating stress for both residents and condominium managers. These issues highlight a critical but often overlooked connection...

Condominium management is a demanding profession that requires resilience, adaptability, and the ability to juggle multiple responsibilities. Imagine starting the day with a flood in a common area, juggling urgent calls from residents, coordinating emergency repairs, and ensuring insurance claims are filed—all before lunch. Later, a heated dispute between neighbours escalates, requiring immediate mediation.

In today's fast-paced world, the well-being of condominium communities hinges on the delicate balance between mental health and community safety. This article delves into the critical connection between these two aspects, offering a comprehensive guide for condominium managers. It presents effective strategies to manage stress, build resilience, and handle conflicts ethically and effectively.

Condominiums are far more than just buildings—they're vibrant communities where people live, work, and seek comfort and security. While keeping a building's physical infrastructure in good shape is essential, creating an environment that promotes mental and physical well-being is equally important. When engineers design with residents in mind, they help foster a sense of safety, reduce stress, and build stronger, more resilient communities.

There are several windows open on your screen: the last issue of a Condo Magazine, Outlook, the property manager software, a corporation's Declaration, a set of rules, a unit file, and the Excel spreadsheet where you, the property manager, is attempting to complete a budget. On your desk are copies of contracts, the Condo Act, one agenda, unread correspondence, some invoices, a printed Balance Sheet, past Financial Statements, a notebook, and a handful of Post-it notes with scribbles.

Condominium living brings together people from diverse backgrounds to share a common space, fostering a sense of community while also introducing unique challenges. Among these chal lenges, mental health stands out as a vital component in ensuring a safe and harmo nious environment. Mental health in a condo setting isn’t just about individual well-being—it’s about the collective health of the community and the relationships between key stakeholders: residents, the board of directors, and the condo manager.

The Condominium Act, 1998 contains pathways for solving many complicated issues related to condominium operation, like governance, repairs and maintenance, sale or lease of units, meetings and voting and more. But there's one important way that the Act falls short. It fails to address the complexities and inefficiencies associated with levying, disputing and collecting chargebacks of certain costs as additional common expenses.

The board of directors of a condominium corporation in Ontario have significant responsibilities, particularly regarding reserve funds. The board of directors must collect and manage these funds prudently and in compliance with the Condominium Act...

Managers must quickly adapt to the new changes to Ontario’s Construction Act which address four key priorities: mandating the annual release of holdback amounts, expiry of liens, new information required for a “proper invoice” and a new system for access to adjudication...

In June 2023, Bill 91 (“Less Red Tape, Stronger Economy Act, 2023”) received Royal Assent. This Act implemented amendments to various pieces of legislation, including the Condominium Act, 1998. On October 1, 2023, the changes relevant to the Condominium Act, 1998 came into force. The primary purpose of the changes was to...

There are more than 13,000 condo corporations in Ontario, and some 70,000 people serve as members of their boards. With disputes ranging from special assessments to construction deficiencies and even human rights claims, lawsuits involving condo corporations are on the rise in Ontario. It's more important than ever to ensure that your condominium corporation has a robust legal defence insurance policy...

Ontario’s fast-growing condominium market has long been the focus of increasing regulation to improve governance, transparency, and accountability. While these rules are a win for condo owners and tenants, they often overlook a crucial group at the heart of this growing industry: condominium managers. These professionals are responsible for maintaining the day-to-day operations in buildings that can house hundreds of residents.

For businesses, the question “Does it pay to be green?” is increasingly answered with a resounding “yes.” Commercial real estate projects are being constructed to meet rigorous LEED standards, while logistics companies are electrifying their fleets, and municipali-ties are even embracing energy-efficient LED lighting on a massive scale. But for condominium boards and property managers, the decision to go green isn’t quite as clear-cut...