by admin | Jun 27, 2009 | 2009 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Late last month, Toronto became the first city in North America to adopt a bylaw requiring the construction of green roofs on new developments. It comes into force Jan. 31, 2010. A green roof is a system where a vegetated area becomes part of...
by admin | Jun 20, 2009 | 2009 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca The issue of toxic Chinese drywall may well become the biggest environmental crisis to hit North American homeowners and builders in decades. The defective Chinese drywall emits toxic hydrogen sulphide, sulphur dioxide and other gases. It is...
by admin | Jun 13, 2009 | 2009 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Sonia James learned the hard way that it’s not always a good idea to sue your lawyer and blame your misfortunes on him or her. In late 2002, James signed an agreement to buy a house under construction in Whitby. Just before closing the following...
by admin | Jun 6, 2009 | 2009 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca One of the biggest mysteries of the local real estate market is the legality of basement apartments – also known as granny flats, in-law suites, accessory apartments or non-retrofit units. Toronto bylaws permit basement apartments in all single...
by admin | May 30, 2009 | 2009 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Barbara and Michael learned the hard way that pre-construction deposits paid to builders of condominium units are only protected by the Tarion Warranty Corp. up to a maximum of $20,000. Barbara emailed me recently to say that three years ago she...
by admin | May 23, 2009 | 2009 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Injunction granted after protesters stall construction at Hagersville home-building site Last month, the Ontario Superior Court in Hamilton granted an injunction against two aboriginal groups preventing them from entering the property of a local...
