Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Condominium Law Practices Chit-Chat talks about COVID issues, AGM uncertainty and changes to the Condominium Authority Tribunal (CAT).
If competence is the enemy of adversity, by all means get some, get some more from condominium lawyers, organize it and use it.
Welcome to the field of Ontario condominium real estate law practices in my condo home library, the Condorary.
Which law firms of lawyers shine brilliantly by open engagement in education of condominium property managers and unit owners through organizations such as the Association of Condominium Managers of Ontario (ACMO) and the Canadian Condominium Institute (CCI) regional chapters in the province. Perhaps in other ways committed to assisting current and future clients in solving their problems?
Are there other legal stars in the provincial constellation? Just like a shooting star in the night sky, a few will wink in and out of here at hyper-warp speed while countless others remain pinpoints of faint light to find and trust by searching elsewhere.
The third quarter consists of 110 posts (written & recorded) by 10 law firms alphabetically listed below. Who else has an interest in registering for a live podcast or webinar to ask questions? Visit the websites of the legal professionals who offer them for the date and time of their next scheduled event.
How To Use Access to any law practice is formatted as follows: Click on the title of their article to arrive at the latest post on their blog or article collection. Click on the law firm name to go to their website. Click on an editorial selected article of interest by author for the actual post.
Law Firms Index
- Davidson Houle Allen LLP – Ottawa
- Elia Associates Professional Corporation – Oakville, Barrie, Toronto, Ottawa
- Fogler, Rubinoff LLP – Toronto
- Gardiner Miller Arnold LLP – Toronto
- Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP – Kitchener-Waterloo, Toronto, Ottawa
- Horlick Levitt Di Lella LLP – North York
- Lash Condo Law – Toronto
- Merovitz Potechin LLP – Ottawa
- Miller Thomson LLP – London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Toronto, Vaughan, Markham
- Robson Carpenter LLP – Ayr, Kitchener-Waterloo, Toronto
- Helpful Links
Davidson Houle Allen LLP – Ottawa
Reduced Gathering Limits – What About AGMs? The Ontario Government announced last week its decision to downsize gathering limits for “unmonitored private social gatherings”.
Source: Mohiminol Khandaker, © 2017 Davidson Houle Allen LLP
Real estate law firm’s quarter post count – 21, podcast – 1 :
By Christy Allen, B.Comm., LL.B., Partner
Tarion’s reinstatement of deadlines
By James Davidson, B.A., LL.B., ADR, Partner
What about a credit for meeting attendance
Recent court decision again confirms repair and maintenance mandate of the board
Chargebacks for enforcement costs – a further piece of the puzzle
Court upholds corporation’s COVID-19 policy
By James Davidson and Mohiminol Khandaker
Government to expand the jurisdiction of the Condominium Authority Tribunal
By Emily Deng, BSc., J.D., Associate
Continued suspension of small claims court operations
By Mohiminol Khandaker, LL.L.,J.D., LL.M., Associate
Video doorbells – a quick summary of some of the concerns
City of Toronto adopts by-law making face masks mandatory on the common areas of apartments and condominiums
Two more condo act forms to be delegated to the CAO
Solicitor-client privilege and records: a reminder
City of Ottawa may soon make masks mandatory
Ontario government changes limits for indoor and outdoor private gatherings
City of Kingston restricts large gatherings downtown and requires face coverings to be worn in multi-unit residential buildings
Reduced gathering limits – what about AGMs?
By Cheryll Wood and Melinda Andrews, Associates
Ontario’s declared state of emergency is over … now what happens with condo AGMs ?
Podcast
Episode 11 – Condo Crunch 1 – Condo Board Responsibilities – Condopedia
The Davidson Houle Allen Video Library contains podcasts converted to videos.
Elia Associates Professional Corporation – Oakville, Barrie, Toronto, Ottawa
Why The CAT Should Award Legal Costs, Part 3 As we pointed out in our 2 previous articles (here and here), the Condominium Authority Tribunal of Ontario (the “CAT”) should be awarding legal costs to parties when they are successful in their litigation. Since Condominium Managers should not be representing their condominium corporation clients at the CAT, that role either falls upon the Board members or the condominium’s legal counsel.
Source: Victor Yee © Elia Associates Professional Corporation
Real estate lawyers quarter post count – 8, videos 2 :
By Victor Yee B.A., J.D., Associate
Why the Cat should award legal costs, Part 3
Webinar
For webinar enthusiasts, check out the Condowise series of videos.
Fogler, Rubinoff LLP – Toronto
Expanded Jurisdiction for CAT – Parking, Pets, Storage – Starting October 1, 2020 On August 26, 2020, the Ontario government announced that changes to expand the jurisdiction of the Condominium Authority Tribunal (the “CAT”) will come into effect on October 1, 2020
Source: © David E. Thiel, Fogler, Rubinoff LLP
Real estate lawyers quarter post count – 1 :
By David E Thiel, Partner
Expanded jurisdiction for CAT – parking, pets, storage – starting October 1, 2020
Gardiner Miller Arnold LLP – Toronto
Section 92 Charge-back Checklist In Beswick v. YRCC 1175, the court held that a condo should not have made exterior interlock and pavement repairs to townhouse exclusive-use common elements without first providing reasonable notice of the expected cost of such proposed repairs to the townhouse unit owners.
Source: Bob Gardiner, © 2020, Gardiner Miller Arnold LLP
Real estate law firm’s quarter post count – 12 :
By Tony Bui, B.A., Associate
Welcome to Stage 3, Toronto: what this means for your condominium
Always act reasonably – the Amlani decision and a lesson from the court
Amlani and indemnity provisions – All bark, no bite? Not quite
By Bob Gardiner, Partner
Section 92 charge-back checklist
By Andrea Lusk, B.Sc., LL.B., Associate
COVID policy upheld, oppression lessons and “welcome” expanded CAT
By Andrea Lusk, Bob Gardiner, An Nguyen, Tony Bui
Considerations on the proposed “Condo Guide”
By An Nguyen, J.D., Associate
The new hot seat – the electric (meeting) chair
Re-opening amenities – is signing a waiver enough?
Mandatory registration for short-term rental operators aids condo enforcement
Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP – Kitchener-Waterloo, Toronto, Ottawa
Do Social Gathering Limits Apply to Condo AGMs? This past Saturday, Ontario expanded to the rest of the province the indoor 10-people “social gathering” limit. We blogged already on the impact these new limits have on Condo AGMs. Many condos who had planned smaller, more intimate in-person AGMs are being caught off guard and are now scrambling to go online or to reschedule their AGM.
Source: Rodrigue Escayola, © 2020 Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP
Real estate lawyers quarter post count – 19, Videos -2:
By Rodrigue Escayola, Partner
End of Covid emergency: new deadlines to call your AGM’s
Condos must act reasonably or face litigation cost
Ontario further eases gym restrictions
Mandatory masks in condos: is Ottawa next in line?
Condo tribunal expands jurisdiction to deal with pets, parking, lockers and chargebacks
Deadlines to hold your AGMs – book them now!
New cap on AGM size as Ontario rolls back limits on social gatherings
Do social gathering limits apply to Condo AGMs?
By Graeme Macpherson, Associate
Tenants ordered to pay a condo’s compliance legal fees
Mandatory registration for short-term rentals (in Toronto)
By David Plotkin, Associate
Back to basics: adopting a condo bylaw
Video
Visit the Gowling WLG Video Library of international content which also contains information about other aspects of law.
Horlick Levitt Di Lella LLP – North York
COVID-19 & Residential Tenancy Law in Toronto COVID-19 has quickly circled the globe and is causing havoc across the planet. The flu spread through China, Europe and now has hit the United States. Here in Canada, the virus has started to spread in several provinces, and non-essential businesses have begun to shut their doors. Employment insurance applications are in the millions, and hundreds of thousands of Canadians are already facing down rent and bills they might not be able to pay.
Source: Horlick Levitt Di Lella LLP
Real estate law firm’s quarter post count – 0, Video – 15 :
Video and Webinar
The HLD Lawyers Video Library contains case law videos and recorded webinars. Forget Netflix. Participants’ law questions are answered along with other insights.
Lash Condo Law – Toronto
Condo COVID-19 Policy Upheld by Court In a case released September 10, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice upheld a corporation’s COVID-19 related policy prohibiting most in-suite renovations and repairs.
Source: Josh Milgrom, © 2017 Lash Condo Law
Real estate law firm’s quarter post count – 19 :
By Denise Lash B.Sc., LL.B., ACCI, FCCI
Condo AGM notice of meeting packages – items to include
Important announcement – Condo AGM’s – the dates are here!
Virtual AGM’s and owners meetings – how does voting work?
Condo hybrid meetings
Ministry announcement – condo AGM’s, virtual meetings and consent to e-notices
By Josh Milgrom, B.A., J.D.
Mask policies now mandatory in Toronto Condos
Condo COVID-19 policy upheld by court
New cap on gatherings – what it means for condos
By Sarah Morrey, B.A., J.D.
Bare-bones standard unit by-law for condo corporations
Natalia Polis, B.A., J.D.
Attention all short-term rental operators
By Joseph Salmon B.A., J.D.
Insurance coverage for condo contractors – slip and fall
Condo Tarion warranty claim submissions and conciliation
Expansion of disputes at Condominium Authority Tribunal – fresh off the press!
Merovitz Potechin LLP – Ottawa
Updated Repair and Warranty Deadlines for New Home Builders and Buyers On July 6, 2020, Tarion announced the reinstatement of certain statutory timelines that had previously been suspended pursuant to Ontario’s Emergency Order. Builders and buyers should take note that the following rules will apply to builder repairs, warranty submission timelines, and requests for conciliations.
Source: Frank Bourgault © 2020 by Merovitz Potechin LLP.
Real estate lawyers quarter post count – 1 :
By Frank Bourgault, Associate
Updated repair and warranty deadlines for new home builders and buyers
Miller Thomson LLP – London, Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Toronto, Vaughan, Markham
Condo Amenities Reopening As the Province of Ontario continues to allow for “new” types of activities to resume, many condo Boards are considering what amenities can be reopened and, perhaps more importantly, what procedures and safeguards can be put in place to protect both their residents and the condo corporation itself.
Source: Justin McLarty © Miller Thomson LLP 2020
Real estate lawyers quarter post count – 1 :
By Justin McLarty, B.A., J.D., Associate
Condo amenities reopening
Robson Carpenter LLP – Ayr, Kitchener-Waterloo, Toronto
Condo COVID Q & A We are still receiving dozens of questions about COVID each week, ranging from how to host meetings to how to reduce potential liabilities. It looks like COVID is here to stay for a while, so we thought that we would provide some answers to the most common questions from our condominium clients.
Source: Michelle Kelly, © Robson Carpenter LLP
Real estate lawyers quarter post count – 11 :
By Daniel Brockenshire, B.A., M.A., J.D., Associate
Electricity providers’ requirement for a security deposit
By Michelle Kelly, B.Comm., LL.B., Partner
Amendments to the condominium act 1998 a recap of 2017 to 2020
Virtual requisition meetings
Summer reading: condominium authority tribunal (CAT) 2020
Fight fire with fire: seeking court orders to amend the declaration
End of declared emergency: your most common condo AGM questions answered
Warning! At capacity for 2020
The Cat is growing
Government will not provide further extension to deadlines to hold AGMs