Real Estate Litigation Articles

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca A decade of not setting foot on property ends ownership – A patch of fenced-off land was the subject of a recent Ontario court ruling on squatter’s rights Is it possible to claim possessory title to a parcel of someone else’s land if the...

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Buyers and sellers alike suffer the consequences The Seller Property Information Statement, a disclosure form created by the real estate industry, continues to cause grief for sellers, buyers — and real estate agents. Back in August, 2008,...

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Court judges a boundary tree by entire trunk, from roots to foliage. A little Norway maple can grow into a big legal problem for neighbours who share it Who owns a tree which straddles the property line between my house and my neighbours? Can I...

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Strip of land along river, lake banks may be public Sixty-six-foot strips of land were laid out for road allowances along rivers and lakes by Crown land surveyors in the late 19th century I just found out that the boathouse and dock in front of...

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca An acceptable status certificate is as important to the buyers as the purchase agreement itself. Make sure your lawyer reviews the certificate closely. Why does a lawyer have to review the condominium status certificate on a resale purchase?...

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Couple out of home for a year in case of smoke migration We have experienced an overwhelming smell of cigar smoke coming from the condominium unit above ours. What can we do? Those were the living conditions of Sharon MacKay and Tom Cheney that...

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Ask for plans and measurements to be included in your purchase offer Where can I find the size of the condo unit I'm buying in the builder’s pre-construction contract? I frequently get asked this question when I review builder offers with...

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Ensure the scope, cost and responsibilities are covered I’m about to do a major renovation in my home. What kind of paperwork do I need? Excellent answers to this question were provided by Toronto lawyer Roger Gillott, a partner with the firm...

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca New home purchase agreements have loopholes What happens when the new-build condominium unit you buy from just the plans is significantly different from the one the builder has completed? Are you obliged to close the deal? That was the issue in...

Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca Some title insurance may not cover previous, shoddy repairs I just learned that my house was renovated without a proper permit from the city. Do I have title insurance coverage for the necessary repairs? A client recently asked me this question....