Attached religious object likely should have stayed with house

by admin | May 15, 2010 | 2010 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Is a religious object attached to the outside of a house or condominium a fixture, which remains with the home on a sale, or a chattel, which can be removed by a departing owner? That was the issue raised recently by a colleague, Gary...

Land survey most important document in real estate transaction

by admin | May 1, 2010 | 2010 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

The sad tale of the Glenlake Ave. driveway featured in the Star late last month has focussed public attention on the difference between the Land Registry and the Land Titles systems of property ownership. It has underscored yet again the fact that the single most...

City takes dim view of junked car ‘planter’

by admin | Apr 17, 2010 | 2010 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Down the street from my house, one of my neighbours has an old bathtub filled with earth sitting on the front lawn. In season, it contains flowering plants and is quite attractive. During the rest of the year, it just looks like an old bathtub....

Lender didn’t have right to add credit card balance to mortgage

by admin | Apr 3, 2010 | 2010 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Does a mortgage lender have the right to add the outstanding balance on your Visa card to the amount outstanding on your mortgage? That was the issue in a 2009 court case involving Toronto law firm Dale & Lessmann LLP and the Royal Bank of Canada. When Dick Soong...

Developer-imposed purchase agreements challenged

by admin | Mar 20, 2010 | 2010 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca It has become common practice in Toronto for some developers to require condominium purchasers in each building to contribute to the costs of guest suites, superintendent’s units, carwash bays, car share units and similar amenities. Typically,...

Victory for non-smoking condo couple in B.C.

by admin | Mar 6, 2010 | 2010 Toronto Star Columns, Toronto Star Property Law Columns

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca A decision of the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal late last year could have an enormous effect on owners and occupants of condominiums and rental apartments across Canada in the coming months. Paul and Rose Kabatoff live in a suite in an...