Ontario Condo Law Blog : Toronto Condominium Lawyer & Attorney : Gardiner Miller Arnold Law Firm : Ontario, Ottawa, Hamilton, Kitchener

Condominium corporations now have another option for addressing the difficult and uncomfortable subject of hoarding in multi-unit residential buildings. 

Earlier this month, Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshall (OFM) released its report on a large fire at an apartment building at 200 Wellesley Street, Toronto in September 2010. Fighting this blaze was especially difficult because the unit at issue was occupied by a hoarder and jam-packed with junk. The fire forced the evacuation of 1,200 people, some for many weeks, and injured 17.

Because hoarding was a deep-rooted problem at this particular address, the 200 Wellesley fire brought the dangers of hoarding into the public spotlight. The Toronto Star reports that fire crews mopping up found another 15 units in the same complex with hoarding problems, and that another hoarder’s unit had gone up in flames a year earlier.

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The latest development in Toronto Mayor Rob Ford’s campaign to derail the gravy train raises some useful thoughts for condo corporations.    

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The local, national and international newswires have been packed with great condo-related items in recent weeks.  Here are some of the best that we've tweeted about.

ONTARIO NEWS

My little hometown has approved a new condo plan (its first?) http://bit.ly/jNVCzs   (@DelhiNewsRecord)

RT @TOMayorFord: #TOCouncil has rescinded the mandatory #TTC Metropass program for new condos built in #Toronto. Discount passes still available

Four Seasons penthouse #condo sells for $28-million - http://bit.ly/k65EOU (@syladurantaye)

RT @OREAGR: PC Party #changebook proposes to create a registry of former Grow Ops. Registry would help protect #Ontario home buyers http://ow.ly/56M2V

Condominium Act needs overhaul, critics say: http://bit.ly/kwDQFb

RT @ACMOnews: ACMO Legislative Brief Presented today to Ontario Gov't - http://bit.ly/lzjGiB

ACMO/CCI submit long-awaited Legislative Brief to revise the Condo Act. Full txt:   http://bit.ly/l8wdHl; Exec summary: http://bit.ly/mRABzi

Physician's proposed #condo devlpmt (with handy built-in medical clinic) on hold pending OMB appeal.   http://bit.ly/iI8Hhs (@TheWindsorStar)

Looking for a no-kids condo? Keep dreaming. InsideHalton article: In search of quiet.  http://bit.ly/kt9YLZ

Shall we take heed? RT @Urbanation: Carney sees excesses in certain condo markets:   http://bit.ly/m54uTB  via @globeandmail

Historic condo courtyard faces demolition - Debate rages over removing gardens to fix parking garage.   http://bit.ly/k2N8Hz (@OttawaCitizen)

"Are too many condominiums being built in Toronto?" Anxiety, as condo sales hit record high - Moneyville.ca - http://bit.ly/mpHoF4

Bidding closed for #Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games Athletes’ Village – Daily Commercial News   http://bit.ly/li12rd > Slum condos for sale in 2016?

Danforth condo devlpmt "sparks" controversy http://bit.ly/kICqNI (@toronto_life) Q: Who'd buy a condo from a developer accused of arson?

#Toronto land developer guilty of arson, manslaughter in blaze clearing site for new condo.   http://bit.ly/jmoXgv

Condo garbage piles stinking mess, says councillor - Brantford Expositor - http://bit.ly/pUzW7g

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We've been saving up a big batch of the juiciest tweets for those of you taking another week of summer holidays.  For easier digestion, a second entry will contain the latest and greatest news items.

To receive live feed, follow me on Twitter.

COURT / TRIBUNAL DECISIONS

ONSC upholds @OntMAG's preservation order against condo units, other assets held by alleged crooked home renovators - http://bit.ly/j8yJYe

OMB reduces parking reqmnt at condo complex to permit completion of unit owner’s 2d flr. Condo's objection overruled. http://bit.ly/mtv1lh

ONSC orders sale of condo unit after years of aggression, violence, threats, vandalism by owner. http://bit.ly/kAPOqi

ONSC appoints administrator for another condo in trouble. Interim administrator replaced with owners' candidate.   http://bit.ly/mC4vSV

HRTO pares down one of several tenuous complaints filed by unit owners over insults dished out by condo board prez. http://bit.ly/mLEGhs

HRTO dismisses yet another tenuous human rights complaint over condo board’s shoddy treatment of its unit owners. http://bit.ly/jBeY4o

BCSC quashes strata members’ vote approving a special assessment where balloting was not kept secret.   http://bit.ly/kp5BnL (H/T @VPFranco)

HRTO denies unit owner's bid for production of security footage showing respondent condo director's patronage of a bar. http://bit.ly/kqO2OE

ONSC dismisses unit owners' 3rd party claim vs condo corp in a bank's mortgage enforcement action.   http://bit.ly/iD7nRP

HRTO can't rule on "every dispute or perceived unfairness;" dismisses condo owner's complaint over weatherstripping. http://bit.ly/j0vtx0

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The Community Associations Network blog posted a nice piece on Friday wishing a Happy Canada Day to those of us north of the border. In that post, CAN’s president, a Michigander named Joe West, explains why he includes Canadian stories in his excellent condo law newsfeed and blog lists, apparently in answer to a question asked by his readers.

The answer is worth reading, but the question itself gives us some pause.  

Most American condo law blogs pay little attention to condo law and news from the Great White North, perhaps for any number of good reasons, but Joe quite rightly recognizes the importance of looking elsewhere for ideas in how to improve things close to home. That’s a good point, considering that while the laws in our respective countries are considerably different, there are many common issues facing condominiums and community associations on both sides of the border. Some include:

• Preventing fraud by directors, managers and others;
• The nascent movement to restrict smoking in multi-unit residential buildings;
• Ensuring financial security in the face of difficulty economic times; 
• How to persuade government to enact protective laws;
• Enforcing the documents in people, pets and parking cases;
• Enhancing home values through prudent maintenance and repair;
• Forging strong community bonds and good neighbourship;
• And so many more.

Condos and community associations are, at their essence, an important and popular way for many millions of North Americans to live and co-exist. Finding, sharing and delivering information to help the homeowners and directors of those associations and the professionals, trades and others that serve those folks remains important.  The line on the map between our two counties is remarkably unimportant by comparison.

Canadian condominium professionals and enthusiasts are wise to keep watching developments in the United States. To do that effectively, follow CAN’s newsfeed and peruse the impressive list of community association blogs showcased on their website, many of which we have highlighted from time to time.

Best wishes for a happy Fourth of July to all our American friends and neighbours.

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