Buying a Condo
(1) CONDOMINIUM RULES
This is a warning about the types of rules that affect many condominiums. Should you be concerned about what rules are imposed by the Condominium Corporation in which your purchased unit is located, we suggest you immediately speak with the property management office.
Some types of rules relate to the following kinds of items:
(i) carpeting on various types of floors to reduce sound transmission; or no hardwood floors (unless management consent is obtained in writing)
(ii) no barbequing on balconies
(iii) no satellite dish (use of common area cable T.V. system is required)
(iv) no parking of commercial or recreational vehicles
(v) use of elevators for moving sometimes have restrictive hours, require reservations and/or security deposits. IF YOU ARE PURCHASING A CONDOMINIUM WHERE AN ELEVATOR OR A LOADING AREA must be used for your move, contact the management office as soon as possible to book your reservation for moving.
(vi) no office, business or commercial uses within condominium units
(vii) pet restrictions that might relate to the kind of pet, the number of pets or the maximum weight of a pet.
(viii) types and colour of window coverings, (white or off-white) as can be seen from exterior of building
(ix) plantings and other uses of exterior patios
(x) unit owner's liability for damaged exterior doors, including garage doors and/or added items such as central air, fireplaces, etc.
(xi) noise generated by musical instruments
(xii) restrictions on short term rentals and other tenancy requirements if you intend to rent the unit.
If you do not comply with a specific rule affecting your condominium, the Corporation has the right to get a court order directing compliance and
ordering payment of legal costs by the unit owner. If you intend to rent your unit, insert a clause in the tenancy agreement that the tenant will comply with all rules and by-laws of the Condominium Corporation.
(2) CONDOMINIUM COMMON AREA CHANGES AND INTERNAL UNIT CHANGES
The Condominium Act of Ontario states that no changes may be made to the common areas, including exclusive use common areas, without consent of the Board of Directors and without first obtaining the consent of at least a majority of the unit owners. Accordingly, if you notice that there have been any changes made to the common areas of your specific unit, such as installation of a central air conditioning unit, the construction of a deck, garden shed or fence, or the enclosure of a balcony, please make direct contact with the management of the condominium prior to closing to verify whether any such changes have been consented to or were originally installed by the builder when the property was originally built. Similarly, if you intend to make any exterior changes to the common areas, you must first obtain the consent of the Board of Directors (in writing) and fulfil the requirements of the Condominium Act as to the consent of the other unit owners. Should you wish to arrange for Condominium management to inspect the unit to confirm that a seller or a prior owner has made no unauthorized changes, please contact management directly.
If it appears to you that the seller has made internal changes to the unit or common area changes, we recommend that you ask management whether
or not such changes were approved by management. Should a purchaser wish to make changes, written approval must be obtained from management.
(m) Wills
As you are purchasing real estate, you should consider preparing a will at this time. It is normal for people to delay in preparing a will; however, the extra cost of $75.00 per person (if a couple) or $88.00 (if single) is small in comparison to the additional costs that can be incurred in administering an estate where there is no will. For further information as to instructions and cost, please refer to WILLS on our website's home page or contact our office at 416-913-8000.
This is a warning about the types of rules that affect many condominiums. Should you be concerned about what rules are imposed by the Condominium Corporation in which your purchased unit is located, we suggest you immediately speak with the property management office.
Some types of rules relate to the following kinds of items:
(i) carpeting on various types of floors to reduce sound transmission; or no hardwood floors (unless management consent is obtained in writing)
(ii) no barbequing on balconies
(iii) no satellite dish (use of common area cable T.V. system is required)
(iv) no parking of commercial or recreational vehicles
(v) use of elevators for moving sometimes have restrictive hours, require reservations and/or security deposits. IF YOU ARE PURCHASING A CONDOMINIUM WHERE AN ELEVATOR OR A LOADING AREA must be used for your move, contact the management office as soon as possible to book your reservation for moving.
(vi) no office, business or commercial uses within condominium units
(vii) pet restrictions that might relate to the kind of pet, the number of pets or the maximum weight of a pet.
(viii) types and colour of window coverings, (white or off-white) as can be seen from exterior of building
(ix) plantings and other uses of exterior patios
(x) unit owner's liability for damaged exterior doors, including garage doors and/or added items such as central air, fireplaces, etc.
(xi) noise generated by musical instruments
(xii) restrictions on short term rentals and other tenancy requirements if you intend to rent the unit.
If you do not comply with a specific rule affecting your condominium, the Corporation has the right to get a court order directing compliance and
ordering payment of legal costs by the unit owner. If you intend to rent your unit, insert a clause in the tenancy agreement that the tenant will comply with all rules and by-laws of the Condominium Corporation.
(2) CONDOMINIUM COMMON AREA CHANGES AND INTERNAL UNIT CHANGES
The Condominium Act of Ontario states that no changes may be made to the common areas, including exclusive use common areas, without consent of the Board of Directors and without first obtaining the consent of at least a majority of the unit owners. Accordingly, if you notice that there have been any changes made to the common areas of your specific unit, such as installation of a central air conditioning unit, the construction of a deck, garden shed or fence, or the enclosure of a balcony, please make direct contact with the management of the condominium prior to closing to verify whether any such changes have been consented to or were originally installed by the builder when the property was originally built. Similarly, if you intend to make any exterior changes to the common areas, you must first obtain the consent of the Board of Directors (in writing) and fulfil the requirements of the Condominium Act as to the consent of the other unit owners. Should you wish to arrange for Condominium management to inspect the unit to confirm that a seller or a prior owner has made no unauthorized changes, please contact management directly.
If it appears to you that the seller has made internal changes to the unit or common area changes, we recommend that you ask management whether
or not such changes were approved by management. Should a purchaser wish to make changes, written approval must be obtained from management.
(m) Wills
As you are purchasing real estate, you should consider preparing a will at this time. It is normal for people to delay in preparing a will; however, the extra cost of $75.00 per person (if a couple) or $88.00 (if single) is small in comparison to the additional costs that can be incurred in administering an estate where there is no will. For further information as to instructions and cost, please refer to WILLS on our website's home page or contact our office at 416-913-8000.
