Building Systems
What’s next for condominium insurance?
Timely maintenance and improvements will play an important role in securing favourable coverage terms and avoiding delays in the renewal process.
Unintended consequences in capital repair planning
Capital repair planning in the condominium market is a crucial aspect of maintaining and improving aging buildings. However, it is essential to recognize that decisions made in this process can have unintended consequences.
Multifamily leads uptake of EV charger funds
Multifamily landlords and condominium corporations have claimed more than a third of the funds the Canadian government has thus far allocated through its Zero Emissions Vehicle Infrastructure Program.
AI as a virtual assistant for managers
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming various industries. Condominium management should be no exception.
Legal implications of AI in condo management
AI in condominium property management can have several legal implications, depending on how it is implemented and used. Here are some important legal considerations:
Actuaries garner new insight into condo finances
The Canadian Institute of Actuaries’ latest insight statement on the longevity of condo infrastructure explores several risks.
Putting HVAC maintenance in the spotlight
What HVAC contractors do, or don’t do, during maintenance has a significant impact on the repairs, service calls and utilities consumed by mechanical equipment.
Tornado research uncovers risks for homeowners
Canada’s tornado risk is more widespread than once thought, according to a growing body of research that, for the first time, tracks the occurrence and aftermath facing property owners across the country.
‘Windows’ of opportunity for home retrofits
In low-rise homes, including condos, up to 35 per cent of heated air can be lost through the windows during the heating season.
Cooling deemed key amenity for Ontario renters
Conceptually, the proposed rules establish air conditioning as a protected option that tenants cannot be prevented from obtaining rather than an essential that landlords would be compelled to supply.
Updating your condo’s emergency response plan
As spring temperatures arrive and snow and ice finally recede, condominium managers often face property maintenance issues that arise or were neglected during the winter
New oversight regime set for Ontario elevators
A new oversight regime for Ontario’s elevators and escalators will come into force on March 1, bringing shorter timelines for rectifying an extensive list of designated high-risk deficiencies.
Maintaining healthy contractor relationships
Construction and project planning, now more so than ever, must assign realistic expectations of scheduling and staging to meet contractor and material availability.
Existing condos: rising to modern standards
New regulations from multiple levels of government are forcing condominium boards and property management companies to consider more than just a simple cost-benefit calculation when examining repair and retrofit options.
Electric ride-sharing is the newest condo amenity
Residents of a freshly built mid-rise in the Annex neighbourhood of Toronto have a fleet of electric vehicles waiting for them to use, whether that’s for a trip around town, a weekend getaway to the cottage or visiting family out-of-province.
Governing condos in Alberta
Condos are ideally designed to operate with relative simplicity and in a well-managed complex there is a measure of security and community.
Ontario condo managers grapple with price hikes
As multi-residential buildings grapple with rising construction costs, condo managers in Ontario are experiencing the impacts up close.