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Living in a condominium complex is not the
same as living in a freehold home: condo living is the right choice for someone
who prefers not to spend time on the upkeep of the structure and grounds of
their home. Those of us who have opted for this living arrangement are aware of
the advantages of condo living, as well as of its limitations.
Here
are some of the great pros of living in Copperfield Estates:
Our
proximity to downtown provides all of us with walking access to great places,
such as the art galleries and stores on Queen Street West, restaurants on Queen
and King Street West, the nearby gyms, the lake with its cycling paths and the
downtown core of Toronto.
When you are a resident of a condominium
corporation, you entrust a property management company to deal with the upkeep
of the common elements. You do not have to take care of your home's exterior,
do landscaping in the summer or shovel snow in the winter! This frees up your
personal time.
Spending of corporation funds is well protected due to
government regulations referring to condominium corporations.
We are
fortunate to have a courtyard with a fountain and a lot of green trees, which
provide a welcome shade in the summer months. We can sit there in the sun or
socialize with neighbours. To enhance the visual aspects of the courtyard, you
can buy flowers in hanging baskets and pots to decorate your patio.
Living in stacked row houses, however, also comes with certain
responsibilities and limitations. Here are a few things that you may want to
know and keep in mind about condominium ownership:
By-laws
and Rules
A condominium's affairs are regulated by the Condominium
Act, and documents known as the Declaration, Description, By-laws and Rules. .
. . By-laws are made by the Board of Directors and approved by the unit owners.
There are also rules of the corporation which regulate the owners' day-to-day
living environment. The Board of Directors makes the rules. The owners are
required to receive notice of the rules and have a right of veto and can amend
or repeal them.
Condominium Ownership 9-10
Communications
You are expected to read the
communications sent by your management company in order to be informed of your
commitments regarding repair and maintenance projects, as well as any events
pertaining to you as an owner or resident. You should also attend the annual
general meetings and vote on the issues presented at those meetings.
Your involvement
You have the right to participate in
the affairs of the condominium corporation. Decisions made by the Board of
Directors will directly influence the use of common elements and what you can
do with your own unit. For this reason, you should be well informed about what
is happening in your corporation. The condominium corporation provides that
some decisions are the sole responsibility of the owner-elected Board but
others must be approved by a vote of the unit owners.
Condominium Ownership 22
A different
lifestyle
Condominium living may be very different from your
accustomed style of life. The following statements point out some of these
differences:
- Most declarations for residential condominiums specify
that units can be used only for residential purposes in accordance with the
zoning by-law and not for commercial purposes;
- Usually the owner is forbidden from any actions which
could threaten the project's insurance coverage . . . making any structural
changes to a unit or changes to the common elements without the consent of the
condominium's Board of Directors.
Condominium Ownership 23
Monthly fees
The monthly fees, which are used to
maintain the property and contribute to the reserve fund, are mandatory. Even
if you are unhappy with the management company or the Board of Directors, you
still have to pay those fees. They are used to pay for insurance, accounting
fees, utilities and other costs associated with the upkeep of the property. "If
you do not make your monthly payments, the corporation can put a lien against
your property for the amount owing, together with interest and legal costs
incurred".
Condominium Ownership 25.
Emergencies
Every owner or tenant has an obligation
to provide management with updated contact information. In an emergency (for
example, flooding from your unit), the management company has the right to
force entry into your unit if they cannot reach you.
Condo living
as a compromise
What every condominium owner needs to keep in mind
is that living in a detached or semi-detached house is very different from
living in a multi-unit condominium. "Condominium living involves compromise. In
return for having someone else fix the roof or cut the lawn, you will no longer
have the final say in what colour you want your shingles to be or the timing of
yard maintenance".
Condominium Buyer's Guide 4
Noise
Condominium living implies that you live in
close proximity with a lot of other people. You are, therefore, expected to be
respectful and considerate of your neighbours' presence. Noise is an important
consideration. "Many condominiums have rules regarding what noise levels will
be tolerated and at what hours. For example, if you are hosting a party in your
unit you may be asked to turn the music down at a specific hour".
Condominium Buyer's Guide 4
Privacy
You may be asked to provide access to your unit in order to have some
necessary maintenance done, such as chimney and vent cleaning, door and patio
painting. You can stay at home, arrange for a friend or neighbour to be there,
or provide the management company with a key to your unit.
Finally, if
you have any questions regarding the management of the condominium corporation,
please call our manager Janine Wallace-Rivard.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Condominium Buyer's Guide, Canada Mortgage and Housing
Corporation, 2002.
- Loeb, Audrey, Condominium Ownership, The Canadian
Condominium Institute.
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