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The City of Toronto recently hired over 300 new fire inspectors, pledging to inspect every high-rise building in the city at least once a year.  The Fire Code adopts a broad definition of “owner”, and, as a result, the city may lay Fire Code charges against unit owners, condo corporations, property managers, management firms and directors for the same infraction.  However, there are a few precautionary steps condos can take to minimize exposure to a pesky Inspection Order or Notice of Violation.

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Continue Reading Flame-shifting – Extinguishing Fire Code Violations

New Standard Form of LeaseImage result for standard lease form

Effective April 30, 2018, landlords of private residential rental units, including condominium units, are required to use a new mandatory form of residential tenancy agreement for all new tenancies (the “Form”). You can download a copy of the Form on the government’s website: http://www.forms.ssb.gov.on.ca

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Continue Reading The New Standard Form of Lease and Condo-specific Additional Terms

It is well known that condominiums owe a duty to accommodate persons with disabilities.  It is less clear, however, what constitutes adequate proof of a disability. Ambiguous medical notes containing no meaningful details are often the only documentation given to condo boards and managers, who must decide whether the legal threshold for disability is met.

Thankfully, the Ontario Human Rights Commission recently clarified this issue.  On February 1, 2017, it released a new policy statement on medical documentation to be provided when disability-related accommodation requests are made.…
Continue Reading Accommodating disabilities: What medical evidence is required?

This month, we celebrate our fifth anniversary of launching this blog.

Since 2008, we have witnessed and written about the good, the bad and the ugly in Ontario condominiums, including:

  • continued explosive growth in new condo construction;
  • new usages of the condominium concept (hotels, resorts, parking facilities);
  • exponential growth of investor ownership and foreign investor ownership;
  • dwindling engagement and participation by unit owners in their condo’s affairs;
  • unit owners and occupants becoming increasingly sophisticated but (for some) unduly self-entitled;
  • greater numbers of condo occupants suffering serious mental health issues;
  • courts and tribunals grappling with the influx of people, pets and parking cases;
  • rising backlash against directors who abuse their powers and position;
  • more frauds against condo corporations, including one of epic proportion;
  • growing complexity of the legal and regulatory landscape facing owners, directors and managers;
  • success stories of condos stepping back from the brink and tales of others that plunge right off;
  • increasing condo manager professionalism and the prospect of licensing and self-regulation;
  • condo mediation achieving critical mass and acceptance at long last;
  • governments reviewing and revising their condo laws

…to name just a few.

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Continue Reading At 5 years: Our changing skyline

Welcome to the Ontario Condo Law Blog.

Our goal is to provide timely and topical information, news and commentary to inform and enlighten members of the condominium community in the Province of Ontario.

Property managers, condominium directors, unit owners and others should stay tuned to our blog for:

– commentary on recent and developing trends…