Condominium Agreement

Condominiums are not for everyone. There are rules and if you do not like the rules do not buy a condominium.

No dogs, no bicycles, no glass in pool areas. These are all valid rules that courts can and will enforce through a court order. At Landy Marr LLP we have acted on behalf of condominium corporations and owners of two, in many cases. Each condominium is governed by its own rules, regulations and laws. They are necessary to ensure that condominiums are properly operated and maintained, and define the rights and obligations of individual owners.

Some rules about individual owners, condominiums may have restrictions on the number of occupants per dwelling, age of occupants, pets, noise and parking and when certain amenities such as swimming pool, tennis, etc. can be used.

As well many condominiums have strict rules concerning the modification of the unit space or its appearance. In addition, you may need to obtain permission from the Board of Directors of the condominium prior to the following: outdoor light switch, install a satellite dish, introduced new color curtains, install a unit packaged in a window, and in particular make changes that may affect the structure of the hypothesis or safety.

As a condominium owner, you may be obliged to attend condominium meetings or serve on condominium boards and committees. More and more of your condo mortgage requirements for the payment of monthly condominium fees. There will also be mandatory charges for a reserve fund in addition to maintenance costs for unforeseen major repairs of the condominium common elements.

In Ontario every condominium has a recorded statement on the title. In addition, each condominium corporation has by-laws and rules. Before entering into an agreement to buy a condo again read these documents over. If it is a resale unit and you read them after you register, it will be too late to change his mind. To avoid disappointment and future problems, you should have a lawyer carefully review and consider all the rules and obligations when you are considering buying a condominium. They should be available from the seller of the unit / seller or the owners' association. The rules will be clearly defined in the governing documents, and you should familiarize yourself with them before buying a condo in particular.

Legal firms have frequently and successfully went to court on behalf of condominium corporations to obtain a court order against people who have pets, who had brought bikes in the elevators and into their units, which brought a drink in a Jacuzzi, and threw their Christmas trees on their balcony.

A condominium is not the same as owning a single family home that you're the king "in your castle. A condominium is in many ways like living in a commune or a kibbutz, where the rights of individual must be subordinated to the rules governing the construction. Individual liberty is not supreme, and unit owners must obey the rules of collective management.

Before buying make sure you know what you're buying by reading the Declaration, regulations and rules. Go see your real estate lawyer before signing the purchase agreement and sale. Not until after your registration, by then it will be too late.