Newsletters and Articles

There are many reasons why the Board of Directors of a condominium corporation would want a vehicle towed, including violation of parking rules, expired plates, or an inoperable or derelict vehicle.

The Condominium Authority Tribunal has recently provided some guidance on whether a condominium can legally tow a vehicle.

Mislabeling someone as an independent contractor can have significant legal implications and employers should understand the differences between an employee and an independent contractor. Often the distinction between an employee and independent contractor is not clear, and many relationships may fall into a grey area. 

As we continue to emerge from the pandemic, more condominiums are holding in-person meetings, but many continue to hold virtual meetings. We expect that over time, more condominiums will be holding hybrid meetings. We have attended hybrid meetings that are very well run and some, unfortunately, not so much. There are some distinct differences that we have noticed between well run hybrid meetings and those that do not go as well.

Read more for 10 tips for holding a well-run hybrid meeting.

Reserve funds exist to ensure that money is available to pay for the cost of major repair and replacement of major capital items in the property. Funding and managing the Reserve Fund are among the most important responsibilities a board of directors has.

Even when there is a breach of the settlement agreement, parties should try and resolve it between themselves if possible and should think carefully about whether the matter is worthy of legal proceedings. If they do not try to resolve it, the CAT could find that the breach was minor or de minimis, refuse to make any correcting orders and order no costs or penalties – resulting in wasted time and effort for all parties involved.

The Government of Ontario has announced Bill 91, Less Red Tape, Stronger Economy Act, 2023. The bill, along with regulatory changes, will make of some of the temporary measures implemented during the pandemic permanent, including those to facilitate online meetings.

The Canada Revenue Agency has recently announced that, in recognition of the challenges in implementing the UHT in its first year, penalties and interest on the 2022 calendar year UHT filing will be waived, provided the return is filed or the UHT is paid by October 31, 2023. While this is not technically an extension of the time to file the return and pay the UHT (it is still due April 30, 2023), no penalties or interest will be applied for UHT returns and payments that the CRA receives before November 1, 2023.

By engaging professionals to review and comment on proposed renovation plans and descriptions, a board can gain a clearer understanding of large renovations, ensuring that the condominium property is not adversely affected, and avoiding unwanted or troublesome renovations.

In a recent case, the CAT found that a strong attachment to a pet, without more, does not create an accommodation obligation on the part of the condominium corporation.