Shared maple tree pits neighbour against neighbour in court battle

by admin | Aug 2, 2019 | 2019 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca “What could be more Canadian than Toronto neighbours arguing about building an addition on a house?” asked Justice Ed Morgan in one of his decisions released earlier this year. “Homeowners arguing about a maple tree, of course,” he continued....

Court gives a jolt to joint property owners

by admin | Jul 19, 2019 | 2019 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca An Ontario Superior Court decision may change the law of joint land ownership and the right of survivorship when one owner dies. Going back hundreds of years, the common-law rule has always seen the survivor of the joint owners — “joint tenants”...

Condo fined $10K for delay in door openers to assist disabled resident

by admin | Jul 5, 2019 | 2019 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca The duty of a condominium corporation to accommodate disabled residents is highlighted by a decision from the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal released earlier this year. Frederico Polito moved into a condominium on Emmett Ave., in Toronto, in...

Wayne and Shuster Lane tugs at this homeowner’s heartstrings

by admin | Jun 21, 2019 | 2019 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca A celebration walk is set for tomorrow — June 23 — to dedicate eight newly-named laneways in the Palmerston/Little Italy area. My personal favourite is the new Wayne and Shuster Lane, celebrating the famous comedians whose names were household...

When you’ve got the keys to your new home but the sellers haven’t left

by admin | Jun 7, 2019 | 2019 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca What happens when a real estate transaction closes, the keys and money have been exchanged, and the buyer arrives at his or her new property only to find the seller still there? Last month this happened to a client of mine on the purchase of a...

Murder irrelevant to sale, court finds

by admin | May 25, 2019 | 2019 Toronto Star Property Law Column, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Is a homeowner obliged to disclose to a potential purchaser that the house was the site of a gang murder? This was the key issue last month in a decision of the British Columbia Court of Appeal, which reversed a 2018 trial court decision. The...