Condo Act doesn’t need major revamp

by admin | Aug 4, 2012 | 2012 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca In June, the McGuinty government announced a public consultation process to “modernize” the 1998 Condominium Act to meet the needs of owners, residents and other stakeholders in the rapidly-evolving industry. The announcement came on the heels...

Smoking issues plague condo corporations

by admin | Jul 21, 2012 | 2012 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Condominium corporations have a duty to accommodate residents who have sensitivity to second-hand cigarette smoke, according to a recent decision of the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal. Corporations who fail in their duty may well be...

Tarion changes are good for consumers

by admin | Jul 7, 2012 | 2012 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca The Tarion Warranty Corp. has introduced a number of program changes which will benefit consumers by providing better disclosure of extra charges in builder sales agreements. By law, every agreement of purchase and sale for a new home or...

Boundary dispute a boon for lawyers

by admin | Jun 23, 2012 | 2012 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca A recent decision of the British Columbia Court of Appeal serves as a strong reminder that landowners who are involved in property boundary disputes should never take the law into their own hands. Four years ago, a heated disagreement arose...

Families, students hurt by municipal licensing bylaws

by admin | Jun 9, 2012 | 2012 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Compulsory licensing for small landlords is rapidly spreading throughout Ontario, having come into effect most recently in Waterloo on April 1 and North Bay on May 1. Other Ontario cities which have already implemented a licensing regime are...