A buyer’s hefty deposit is forfeited when a judge finds he “deliberately” breached his purchase contract

by admin | Jul 11, 2020 | 2020 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca A buyer of a pre-construction townhouse in Markham found out the hard way what can happen if the property is resold before its closing date and without the builder’s permission. Virtually every Agreement of Purchase and Sale for a pre-built home...

Condo board ordered to pay damages to owner who breached no-smoking rule

by admin | Jun 27, 2020 | 2020 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca How should a condominium board act when it receives complaints about a resident smoking in his unit? That was the issue in a decision of the Ontario Superior Court released earlier this year. The case concerns the conduct of a condo corporation...

‘Zombie’ property deeds are both alive and dead, say justices in Ontario’s top court

by admin | Jun 13, 2020 | 2020 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Can dead people sign property deeds? The answer: it depends who you ask about so-called “zombie deeds.” In legal circles, a deed of land signed during the owner’s lifetime but registered after death is known as a zombie deed. Judging by online...

Your property, and your family, deserve to be protected in your will

by admin | May 30, 2020 | 2020 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca In these times of economic uncertainty, Canadians who own their own homes may be thinking about protecting them from health risks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For most homeowners, their houses and condominiums are their largest single assets....

ONTARIO REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATION endorses defective COVID-19 clauses

by admin | May 9, 2020 | 2020 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca OREA fails its members and the public. The organization representing Ontario’s 70,000 realtors has published four confusing and dangerous COVID-19 clauses for members to consider using in purchase agreements. The Ontario Real Estate Association...

Alarm bells are raised over new COVID-19 legal clauses in real estate purchase and sale deals

by admin | Apr 25, 2020 | 2020 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca One of Ontario’s most respected real estate lawyers has sounded the alarm against using untested COVID-19 clauses in property transactions. Sidney Troister is a partner at Toronto’s Torkin Manes LLP, and is widely regarded as one of Ontario’s...