Condominiums: misunderstood miscegenation

Such a simple concept when you really understand its simplicity, but so confusing when you just think you understand it.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard the silliest things from condo owners, some of them who have been living in condos for many years. I have often said “we should write this, one day we can publish a book!” – I should have listened to myself, but I digress.

If you are a first time condo owner coming from a rental situation, you may fall into the group that will utter something similar to any of the following:

* My monthly condo rates went up, so I’m going to take my money’s worth and take longer, hotter showers!

* Dear little Donny dropped his toy tractor in the toilet and now it’s plugged in. Send someone to fix it right away.

* They should do something about “lawn mowing”, “trash on people’s balconies”, “parking violations” …

If you are a first time condo owner coming from a single family home, you may be heard exclaiming:

* I paid for it, it’s my house and I’ll plant whatever I want, I own this place

* if I want to install a screen door, I don’t need anyone’s permission

* They are my tenants and I do not want to evict them.

Most of this, at a glance, seems perfectly reasonable. Let’s take a closer look.

* The former tenant who wants to “get your money’s worth” in hot water. The condos are not owned or managed by someone or any company that is making money from the monthly condo fees; These communities are owned by the unit owners and the annual budget (and therefore their monthly rates) is based on actual and projected costs for next year – NO earnings built into rates – NO ONE is Earning money. Their fees cover their share of the actual cost to provide services like water, snow removal, and insurance on the common property. So when you leave the lights on in a building where electricity is included in your rates, or allow your children to break tree branches thinking that someone else is paying the bill, you are actually costing yourself money!

* Your dear Donny, your bathroom. Plumbing, electrical and other services within your unit that only serve YOUR unit are your responsibility. Only lines, pipes, and other common equipment or materials in or around your unit that ALSO serve other units are considered common property. Common property serving many units is repaired at the expense of ALL owners. The exception to this would be if Donny’s tractor damaged a common line that serves other owners; in this case, you would be responsible for paying for repairs to the common property damaged by “you.”

* They are your neighbors, who, like you, have jobs, families, and other interests, but THEY volunteer their time to manage everyone’s household affairs. The common consensus among those who give their time and effort is “if you don’t contribute, you have no right to complain.” Of course, not everyone can serve on the Board of Directors or committees at the same time, but it is certainly an extremely enriching and rewarding experience that all owners should, at the same time, commit themselves to; after all, your unit is likely to be one of your biggest purchases. you will ever do so, don’t you want to give your opinion on how it is carried out?

Now to the other side of the property perspective:

* You paid for it, it is your home, but remember, it is also part of a community where each owner has the same right to fame. Imagine if every homeowner planted whatever they wanted, but remember that not all homeowners have the same good taste, common sense, and gardening talents and skills that you do. Can you imagine what the property as a whole would look like without some specific controls on such “enhancements”? (Not to mention the increase in the cost of maintaining the grounds!) Your Board of Directors is ultimately responsible for ensuring that property values ​​are maintained for all owners and this cannot be achieved without some reasonable controls. (If you question “reasonable”, see also the point immediately above).

* Permission: approval is required for additions that affect the exterior appearance of your home; Not only for the same reason mentioned above, but also because, depending on how your bylaws are structured, some exterior elements such as windows and doors may be the responsibility of the Corporation to maintain. These controls restrict these types of additions to protect all other owners from having to pay to maintain their improvement. This also applies to some interior renovations – you can’t install a larger electrical panel and run a manufacturing business from your unit while your neighbors share the cost of electricity in their monthly rates. You cannot tear down an interior wall without approval because interior walls can carry loads or contain pipes or lines that serve other units; Such renovations put other homeowners at risk. There are many other similar restrictions for the same reasons.

* Your tenants are your responsibility; However, if you allow your tenants to interfere with other landlords’ right of peaceful possession, the Board of Directors has not only the authority regulated by provincial law, but the obligation to intervene and, if necessary, evict your tenant. In fact, the Alberta Condominium Property Act supersedes the Landlord and Tenant Act with respect to the notice period required for evictions. There are several other key issues that affect condo tenants; If you plan to rent your unit, be sure to read and understand the Corporation’s rights when dealing with you and your tenant.

The goal of illuminating these various examples is to illustrate the different mindsets involved when taking certain perspectives. The “bottom line” of any presumption regarding condo ownership is that each owner should prioritize understanding how this form of ownership differs from rental and single-family ownership.

There are so many wonderful things about condo living: carefree land maintenance, safety, community living opportunities … the list goes on, but there are also certain sacrifices you should be prepared for, out of consideration for the greater good (which for True, it affects you AND the value of your property, at the end of the day).