Here’s where you’ll find recent articles about FirstService Residential, as well as our impact on the areas we serve.
As a homeowner, you can make communication in your condominium corporation better. Find out how to do your part.
Are Residents in Your Condo Corporation Getting the Message? Does your board know the secrets of effectively communicating with residents?
The Canadian Senate passed Bill C-45, known as the ‘Cannabis Act’, in June 2018 which legalized the recreational use of cannabis across Canada. The first G-7 country to do so! When Bill-C45 goes into effect on October 17th, Canadians will be able to purchase, consume and grow cannabis as well as make cannabis-containing products at home, such as food and drinks.
Are residents in your condominium corporation always aware of upcoming events, construction projects and board meetings? Do they understand their responsibilities and the policies they need to comply with?
If your community is managed by a property management company, you probably have an after-hours number you can call for urgent issues. But what if you simply want to take care of day-to-day condo corporation business? “People don’t operate in normal business hours anymore,” says Rolando Hernandez, national customer care director at FirstService Residential. “Residents and board members need to be able to take care of condo business how and when it’s convenient for them.”
Policies are necessary in any condominium corporation, but if they aren’t well thought out or properly implemented, they can create more problems than they solve. For example, if a rule goes too far, is not enforced fairly or is not enforced at all, it can cause resentment among unit owners and erode your sense of community. So what can your board do to be certain that the policies you establish do the job they were intended to do?
As a member of your condo corporation’s board, you have a fiduciary duty to your community. In part, that means getting insurance protection for the corporation at the best price possible. However, condominium corporation insurance can be very confusing.
Creating your condominium corporation’s annual budget is one of the most important responsibilities your board has. It takes a lot of hard work and may require spending decisions that won’t be popular with unit owners. Consequently, owners may voice strong objections or even question the board’s ability to manage the corporation’s money.
For the more than 1 million Ontario residents who live in condominiums, driving an electric vehicle (EV) has become a more viable option. Recent changes to the Condominium Act, 1998, address one of the primary barriers condo owners have faced: limited availability of EV charging stations (EVCS) at their condominiums. The revisions, which went into effect May 1, 2018, establish processes for getting EVCS installed in condominium buildings.
At one time or another, every condominium corporation has to spend money on replacing equipment or making major repairs. Whether that means replacing a roof, installing a new ventilation system or any other big-ticket project, they are a necessity. But how should your condo corporation pay for them?