Time for a New Condo Act
By Lucas on Jul 23, 2013
Toronto’s Condominium Act was established in 1998, and unlike the condo industry, it hasn’t changed since. The Condo Act was put in place to protect condo owners and dwellers, but since the boom, many believe that the regulations don’t offer appropriate protection.
The first change to the Condo Act
Ontario Consumer Services Minister Tracy MacCharles has pushed to have mandatory qualifications for condo managers. MacCharles was quoted in thestar.com last week, saying, “There is an overwhelming consensus that condominium managers be qualified and licensed to carry out their significant responsibilities. One in 10 people in Ontario live in a condominium and their quality of life depends to a great degree on qualified, well-trained condominium managers.”
An expert panel of developers, condo owners, and condo residents have been assembled to discuss the qualifications that a condo manager should have. A report is scheduled to be delivered by the panel by the end of next summer.
Currently, a condo manager needs no familiarity with the Condo Act in order to qualify for the job. So, we can assume that the expert panel will recommend that the potential condo manager have a general understanding of the Condo Act, but this Condo Act will be receiving a full facelift. So, it will be a part of the Condo Act for a condo manager to know the Condo Act - we’re looking at years before something solid is in place.
Toronto needs a new Condo Act now
It’s been 15 years since the Condo Act was revised. MacCharles is asking for the expert panel to come back in a year’s time with their report on the qualifications of a condo manager. This is the first step of revising the Condo Act and it will take more than a year to find out what the changes even are.
We assume that over the next year, other factors of the Condo Act will be discussed, and hopefully it won’t take a full year to figure each one out.
Don’t get us wrong; we’re pleased that MacCharles is pushing this initiative. Protecting Toronto’s condo dwellers is extremely important. We just wish it was happening at a faster pace.
What changes should be made to the Condo Act?
Last year, we had the opportunity to sit down with MPP Rosario Marchese to discuss his plan to reform the Condo Act. His plan called for an independent “tribunal,” where condo owners and dwellers could present their issues regarding developers and condo management. Right now, if you have a serious issue, the only option is going to court, and most people just can’t compete with large corporate legal teams.
Marchese’s bill was discontinued last fall at the hand of the Premier at the time, Dalton McGuinty. We won’t be surprised if Marchese’s bill is referenced when coming up with other revisions for the Condo Act. Toronto condos just might get a special tribunal after all.
What do you think of the Condo Act? Is it dated?
