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Features
A lesson from Sandy
It’s that time of year again, with the cold weather approaching and the holiday season upon us and managers have a lot of information to distribute to both residents and staff. From getting the holiday party invites out to residents, updating office hours or getting a last minute announcement out regarding untimely water shut-offs, let’s face it – condominium managers have their hands full.
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Imagine
Imagine someone walking into a strange new world. They know no one. They do not speak the language. They do not understand the culture. They know nothing of the history. They do not know the laws. They don’t know what is expected of them in that society. How would they survive?
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What to do if you live in a glass condo
With so many incidents of balcony glass shattering and falling onto sidewalks, condominium owners have reason to be concerned. Here’s a list of what prudent boards in glass towers should do.
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High performing acoustic floor underlayment is a sound investment
Demand for quiet between floors in multi-story condos, high-rise apartment buildings, converted lofts and tenant buildings is rising, with less intrusion of neighbour noise seen not as a perk but as an expected paradigm. Increasingly often, owners and property managers often pay a steep price when tenants complain about noise, forced to take action after the fact - when the new floor is already being walked on.
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Slam Dunk - A Winning Approach to Condo Board Meetings
What does the game of basketball have in common with condominium meetings?
Well, a flawless game plan for winning with 100 per cent success at every condominium board meeting or basketball game does not exist. There are, however, strategies and principles that can support the success of the condominium board team. We all know there is no “I” in “team” and most of us understand the thought processes behind this concept. It is particularly awkward, however, to manoeuver a basketball or decision process into the hoop with many players of varied skill sets.
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Condo class actions: The start of a new trend?
On March 7, 2012, two class actions were commenced in relation to: (1) the falling glass incidents at the Murano Towers in 2010 and 2011 (the “Murano Action”); and (2) the falling glass incidents at the Festival Tower in 2010 and 2011 (the “Festival Action”).
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Selective Bylaw Enforcement: Discrimination or Not?
Can a condo corporation enforce a bylaw infraction against one owner when it has not enforced the same infraction against others?
This very question was addressed in the recent Ontario Court decision, Durham Standard Condominium v. Morton. The corporation’s by-laws provided that residents could have one pet weighing no more than 20 kilograms and a dog had to be on a leash at all times. A defaulting unit owner claimed that other residents were breaking the bylaw, including some members of the board of directors. The property manager acknowledged that other owners had more than one pet, but there were no complaints about those owners.
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High Performance Building approach to condo developments
Canadians have more than price, location and amenities on their minds when shopping for a new or existing condominium. The vast majority also want to live in a building that is environmentally friendly and energy-efficient.
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Options for mechanical ventilation systems
In the September issue of CondoBusiness, we told you about how proper mechanical ventilation systems can enhance indoor air quality. Here are some system options that you can consider for your condo building if you are looking at a new development or retrofitting.
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The “pearling” of air
In the September issue of CondoBusiness we told you about how plants can be a natural way to improve air quality. Here is more from author Mike Sawchuck about how plants clean the air through a system called “pearling.”
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Should Ontario’s Condominium Act be revised?
Ontario residents are in the midst of a lively provincial election campaign. One topic that has not received much attention is the Condominium Act. Its most recent update was in 1998, and the real estate landscape in Ontario has changed significantly since then.
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What to look for in a security firm
In the August issue of CondoBusiness, Glenn Thomson, VP of Business Development for Garda discussed what to look for in a security partner. Here are his essential questions to ask a security firm before you hire them.
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Falling glass in Condo buildings – why does it happen?
Glass falling from downtown Toronto buildings has become a major safety hazard. Here is a primer on why this is happening, and what to do to manage your risk.
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Information packages make life easier for homeowners
Proper operation and maintenance of products and equipment in a new home can save homeowners, property managers, and developers a lot of time and money.
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Water safety is no accident, says Lifesaving Society
Having a pool in your condo building can be an incredible asset, providing enjoyable leisure or fitness opportunities. To ensure the fun never stops property managers and residents need to take precautions and make some Water Smart choices.
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Is your building prepared for a disaster?
We’ve all heard that the best defense is a good offense. Being prepared with a game plan for when disasters like fires, floods, earthquakes or hurricanes strike is a prudent move for all condo managers.
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Preventing falls on stairs
When people fall down stairs, the consequences for their health can be both severe and long-lasting. However, many of these falls can be prevented with a little careful planning and a few simple strategies. To help people protect their health, mobility and independence, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has a number of tips on how to reduce the risk of falls on stairs. These include the following:
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The importance of networking
Managing buildings is a complex, issues-based role. The best way to deliver excellent services to customers and provide stewardship for the asset is to leverage the knowledge, ideas and solutions of others.
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The intricacies of insurance for condominium owners
Insurance for condominium units is very different compared to the insurance that homeowners and tenants buy. Because condominium corporations must buy their own insurance, the insurance that unit owners buy has to be designed to complement that insurance coverage.
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How to manage a condominium marketed to first time homebuyers
First time homebuyers are attracted to condominiums where other first time buyers live. A developer will market their condominium to this age group based on the location and will provide units sized to be affordable for the first time buyer with the amenities included that are important to younger residents.
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Landscape lowdown
They dot the urban landscape – condos with dying lawns, wilted flowers and brown patches in their cedar hedges. There are condominiums who have managed to keep their greenery green but still the gardens are uninspired and predictable. Few condominiums manage to have both a lush landscape and a beautiful garden in the heat of the summer and into the cool autumn months. Proper lawn and garden care requires time and effort but hiring the right professionals to do a thorough evaluation of the site and come up with a good maintenance plan pays off over time.
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Two terms, one building
Many of us thought we had a pretty good idea what “green” was all about until we were thrown a curveball in the past couple of years. All of a sudden, when talking about green buildings and condominiums, planners, developers and others started using the word sustainable. “We have to make this a green and sustainable building,” were their marching orders.
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