Finders keepers’ law not always a golden ticket

by admin | Mar 12, 2016 | 2016 Toronto Star Property Law Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca What would you do if you found a gold bar while renovating someone’s house? If you had been hired to renovate and in the process discovered a 1 kg gold bar worth $50,000, would you return it to the owner of the house? Or pocket it and say...

Protecting condo buyers when materials, expenses change in final sale agreements

by admin | Feb 27, 2016 | 2016 Toronto Star Property Law Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Recent court decisions have ruled in favour of condo buyers seeking a refund of their deposits following a discrepancy between the initial documents they signed and the final sale agreement. Recent lawsuits over material changes in final sale...

Beware of overcharges during interim occupancy period

by admin | Feb 13, 2016 | 2016 Toronto Star Property Law Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca The way some builders calculate estimated taxes is not the way the city does it and the result is a significant overcharge to buyers. Thousands of purchasers of new condominiums are being overcharged for property taxes. Here’s how it works: when...

Late mortgage payment charges contrary to Interest Act, court rules

by admin | Feb 1, 2016 | 2016 Toronto Star Property Law Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Interest Act is intended to protect property owners against abusive lending practices. A decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal has ruled that late payment charges and default fees set out in a mortgage are unenforceable and contrary to the...

Let’s name a lane or two after Wayne and Shuster

by admin | Jan 16, 2016 | 2016 Toronto Star Property Law Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Toronto’s Laneway Project offers the perfect chance to honour these famous local comedians, suggests Bob Aaron.   The Aarons and the Shusters around 1985. L-R Bob Aaron, Dorothy Aaron, Frank Shuster, Ruth Shuster. The city of Toronto has about...