yourlisting.net

Mission Statement

www.howtocondo.com is a non profit site created to help condo owners deal with disputes, maintain and improve condo life; and protect their wealth.

This site is committed to: improve the quality of the lives of condo owners, to create open communication between condo owners, other condo owners, and to foster ethical dealing between condo owners, management, boards and legal representatives.

As a united establishment we have a voice of authority and reason when communications breakdown between condo owners, and management.

We have the support of many when disputes arise and a wealth of knowledge and experience to help you through those difficult negotiations and unethical board dealings.

And we are Advocates of change, to improve the Condo Act.

Why was this site created?

We, the condo owners, faced numerous problems with unethical boards, bad management and corporation lawyers who dealt in their own self-interest. We did not have anyone to network with; or to help us solve our problems. Therefore, we decided to create a condo networking site; and form a united condo community.

In this site, we can share condo related information and make suggestions regarding condo issues that we face on a daily basis.

The current condo act in Ontario does not protect the condo owners; it protects the Condo Corporation, board and management. The condo act does not protect the people with the vested interest - the condo owners.

Condo owners or new buyers can communicate with other condo owners within the same condo and/or other condos and ask questions in a public condo blog.

Condo owners can be aware of the issues that are taking place within the condo network and come together to help one another.

Condo owners can also be aware of other condo situations and gain knowledge to solve their own condo problems.

Condo owners can search for other condo owners on the network.

Condo owners can buy and sell goods and services for free.

Condo owners can create events that are visible to everyone or visible within certain groups.

Condo owners can participate in board elections for their condo.

Condo owners can find direction to and from condos using Google maps.

Condo owners will have their own wall for partners to leave short messages.

Condo owners can post videos of YouTube links and upload pictures in any condo blog.

Condo owners can search on other condo blogs.

Condo owners can view public events.

What can we do in times of trouble?

Is our wealth protected from unscrupulous condo boards and management? What can we do if we run into trouble with them? What are our options?

We are an apparatus of those that have confronted bad management. We have experience dealing with unscrupulous lawyers. And we are ready to act on your behalf to help you negotiate and if necessary we can help you with your legal problems. And we can protest! And this is something we have done and we have been successful influencing bad boards; bad management, and we have taken on the unscrupulous "self-dealing lawyers".

There are many drawbacks in the condo act; and this causes conflict. For an example, anyone without qualification is allowed to be on a corporation board and can make multi-million dollar business decisions without business acumen or experience - as long as that individual owns an unit.

"The worst case scenario"... condo owners can face dysfunctional board members, corrupt management companies, and self-dealing lawyers who team up with the board - to deplete the corporation's resources. When they have depleted the corporation's resources - they levy high assessments on condo owners.

High assessments: this is an indication that funds have been mis-appropriated by the previous board of directors and management; or that they have not established reserves to cover the costs that are anticipated through the survey, which according to law is supposed to be done regularly. This survey is prepared by an engineer and determines what costs are to be expected to maintain the building and grounds over a period of time. It is not 100% accurate, but generally it helps establish the approximate amount of reserves that need to be collected from unit owners to ensure that high assessments are not necessary.

There are many condos which are aging and even some newer ones, with construction projects pending, that have not established adequate reserves; and many condo owners loose their economic feasibility when faced with high levies, assessments, and big spikes in maintainece costs. These problems persist because of incompetent boards and management.

The condo act was last revised in 1998, and since then millions of people have moved into condos in Ontario. If you look around, you will see that everything has changed: population, demographics, economics, environment, etc. but the condo act has not been revised to reflect a more complicated society.

Sadly the amount of people that have lost their lifetime investments and savings, in condos is astounding. It is an embarrassment to the western system of capitalism and democracy. But is because the average Jack and Jills of society have not made their voices heard and stood up for their rights too.

Our goal is to change the condo act for the better. We need laws to protect the wealth and economic feasibility of the condo owner's investment. We need a judicial body to help us resolve our disputes with mismanagement and unethical boards of directors. Be it a Tribunal or mediation-arbitration system, we need to dispute untendered contracts being handed out; or corrupt managements, boards, lawyers, etc. We don't want to be caught up in the middle of disputes with lawyers who battle ferociously with little or no results; and continue to battle redundantly - until they deplete all our funds. Going to court under Civil Procedure is not an option; it is not fair to be exploited by those with superior resources. Please support us in advocating to the Government for an authoritative judicial body, or mediation too arbitration system, imposed by the government through the revision of the condo act - to adjudicate condo corporation disputes.

It is in everyone's interest to have a condo act that is just and fair. We don't want to contract the economy by having non-feasible condo investments. We are making you aware that there are many issues with condos. The government should take notice and create some laws/regulations to protect our investment, and they will, with your support!

Your support counts!

Join our network and it will make us stronger. We are not making any profit when you join, as you can see, there are no advertisements, joining fees, etc. Help us by giving your support so we can continue to provide the service we are providing for the condo owners in Ontario. Your support, be it asking a friend or neighbor to look at our website, and join our community - goes a long way!

Thanks,

Golam Haider Chowdhury
Software Developer/Condo Owner
BSc. in Computer Science with Software Engineering Specialization
236 Albion Rd.
Etobicoke Ontario
howtocondo@gmail.com
416 565 2130