December 2023
Condominium living is not the same as renting, single-family home ownership or living with parents. There is an administrative and governance structure unlike other forms of housing.
Renters and first-time homeowners can find it hard adapting to condominium living. When renting, everything gets done for them. It takes time to realize they are now responsible for the interior of their unit. When something breaks, they need to repair it. Those who like their music or parties loud, or choose to smoke, find that their neighbours disapprove. There are bills, property taxes and condo fees to pay. Those who ignore their obligations, or community rules, quickly learn the consequences.
“One misconception of condominium living by new owners is that the management company is the decision maker” explains Ryan Stone of Summa Property Management. “It is the condo board that creates policies and rules. The role of management is to enforce decisions made by the board of directors.” In simpler terms, these are referred to as condo rules which govern everything from behavior in and access to common areas, to unit renovations. Anything occurring in a unit that impacts on other units or common areas is subject to enforcement. Individuals coming from a single-family ownership situation don’t realize that they don’t own the front door, which means it can’t be changed without permission. In a non-smoking building, smoking on a balcony or near a window is not allowed. When smoking is allowed, owners smoking in their unit are responsible for taking measures to prevent smoke from bothering others.
When one speaks of common areas, most new owners think of the lobby, exercise room and party room. They fail to consider that their monthly fees are also used to maintain, repair and replace the building façade, roof, HVAC and boiler equipment, plumbing pipes and electrical systems. Hallways and a great many more visible and hidden areas of their building must be maintained.
One area of confusion is where privately owned space ends and common areas begin. The hallway door and walls define personal living space. Behind the walls it can be more confusing. When a sink gets clogged, there is a blockage inside the pipe which may be behind a wall. If the clogged section is within the unit, the owner must clear the blockage or repair the pipe, and pay the bill. If the problem resides beyond the unit, the pipe is owned by the corporation which is obligated to repair it. Many disputes arise when the owner is unclear about what they own and what is part of the common area.
Perhaps the greatest misconception is about money. First-time condo owners are unaware of how their monthly condo fees are spent, why the amount they pay each month differs from their neighbours, and the consequences should they fail to pay their fees as required.
