Homeowner in deep end thanks to old survey

by admin | Sep 14, 2013 | 2013 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca When a judge ordered Kenneth Sorensen to move his in-ground swimming pool, I can only imagine it spoiled his whole day. The story began sometime before Sorensen bought 288 Raven Dr., in Kelowna, B.C., in 2007, and his neighbours, Olutoyese and...

Court finds open building permit is fatal title flaw

by admin | Aug 17, 2013 | 2013 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Title insurance and funds holdback to sign off on permit will allow deal to close Two recent decisions of the Ontario Superior Court have determined that an open municipal building permit — where the city has not closed its file — constitutes a...

Floor-by-floor sales venture would work better as a condo property

by admin | Aug 3, 2013 | 2013 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Too many legal sinkholes in real estate proposal My nomination for the the most oddball real estate scheme of the year is last week’s proposal by Larry Chilton and his real estate broker to sell separate floors of his Victorian rooming house...

Cellar flood among wave of lawsuits from disclosure form

by admin | Jul 20, 2013 | 2013 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Seller Property Information Statement has prompted over 200 court cases since 1997 In the wake of widespread flooding in Toronto last week, I’ve had a number of phone calls and emails from people trying to sell their properties. They ask about...

New home owners dig into their legal rights and obligations about backyard burial

by admin | Jul 6, 2013 | 2013 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Couple unaware former owner’s ashes part of their purchase Just when I thought I had heard every possible real estate problem, a client showed up with a question that is so novel that the answer doesn’t appear in any court cases or real estate...

Toronto condo on Leaside street with name that had lofty beginning

by admin | Jun 22, 2013 | 2013 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Canada’s first airmail pilot lands his good name in Leaside A couple of weeks ago I was meeting with a client to sign closing documents for his condominium purchase in the Scenic on Eglinton project in Toronto’s Leaside neighbourhood. Since the...