Terrible Condo Management: Driving me insane

[krimsalt]

Hello TM3, how have we all been?
I'm getting this out there in case there are any people here who have previous experience with Condo Management or working in the condo/apartment area. I've been having real issues with my building and the management hasn't stepped up their game, so I want to see what rights I have and if there is anything I can do legally to get them to stop being morons. Basically the main complaints are the constant fire alarms that go off, many due to faults in the system; elevators that feel totally unsafe (noisy, shaky, rickety); and general rudeness from the management (and I think they are withholding information saying we are not allowed to see it).

If anyone can help I'd be very appreciative

[SomeGuy]

Pretty sure elevators require periodic inspections to make sure they're safe still. It should be displayed, check to see when that was done and by who.
Fire alarms, again, must be in working order and inspected...

[Zotaga]

Solution: Sell the condo and move but prior to moving, get references from the other condo tenants in the new building you wish to move to.

[Cab0oze]

Just a few of the reasons why I would never ever live in a condo. You're at the mercy of people who might be completely incompetent and you have to live your life by their rules.
Sorry I don't have anything helpful to say... good luck =/

[krimsalt]

Just a few of the reasons why I would never ever live in a condo. You're at the mercy of people who might be completely incompetent and you have to live your life by their rules.
Sorry I don't have anything helpful to say... good luck =/

Sometimes having another human in agreement is helpful in on its own

[krimsalt]

Pretty sure elevators require periodic inspections to make sure they're safe still. It should be displayed, check to see when that was done and by who.
Fire alarms, again, must be in working order and inspected...

That's what gets me, it's almost common sense? We pass inspection for elevators, and we have constant alarms go off that are attributed to "faults". I'm assuming something's going on under the table or the incompetent management looks to hire incompetent contractors? We had an issue where all but one elevator was down over the summer for nearly a week and a half (and in a 37 storey building, at that point waiting for that one elevator may take up to 25 minutes), and every time a tech would come fix it, it'd immediately break down.

I've lived in many buildings before, and so has my wife whose lived in buildings all her life, and we both agree we've never seen this level of incompetence or problems. It's as if they built the condo from Wal-Mart parts

[Mitchell3]

Pretty sure elevators require periodic inspections to make sure they're safe still. It should be displayed, check to see when that was done and by who.
Fire alarms, again, must be in working order and inspected...


This. Fire alarm inspections have to be completed annually and alarms working properly. If you aren't getting anywhere with management perhaps try the fire department.

Elevators also have to be inspected regularly. There should be a paper as Ryan mentioned in or near the elevator with the license. Should have the TSSA logo on it. If you don't think something is up to par you could try reporting it to the TSSA.

Condo's can be nightmares.

[krimsalt]

Elevators also have to be inspected regularly. There should be a paper as Ryan mentioned in or near the elevator with the license. Should have the TSSA logo on it. If you don't think something is up to par you could try reporting it to the TSSA.



Hmm... thanks for this.. that's another think I've noticed is the licenses are not posted in the elevators. That might work

[peterm15]

The real question is it the management or the board thats having the problem.

Majority of my work is in condos. If you dont mind me asking which management company? There are good and bad condo management companies.


Alot of condos are having problems now due to the incompetence of the actual board members, usually in relation to non payment of invoices or the general laziness to sign the checks. Any major repair (usually over $1000) needs the boards approval. And if the boards aren't on the ball or constantly skipping meetings things dont get done.

For example. One of my buildings across from square one had a fire on a balcony. The guy who lives in the apartment has now been waiting 6+months for things to get done. Unfortunately with any condo building I am not alowed to do work on the exterior of the building without management approval. Management needs to get approval from the board. Even though the condo corp (pscc***) isnt actually paying for the work but rather an insurance company. The insurance company has already sent a check to the management company. The board just hasn't given approval. If that makes sense. At least thats what im told.

The easiest way to get changes made is to contact the board directly or become part of it.

[Mitchell3]

^ Those are excellent points as well. It can be incapable board members causing the problems. Management may just be following their poor instruction which they don't necessarily agree with.

If you were in KW I'd recommend you suggest our property management company :P.

[captobvious75]

I'm a director on my condo board.

Have you written a letter to the management? Have you recieved a response? If so, what was it?

The management has an obligation to answer all correspondence.

[krimsalt]

The real question is it the management or the board thats having the problem.

Majority of my work is in condos. If you dont mind me asking which management company? There are good and bad condo management companies.


Alot of condos are having problems now due to the incompetence of the actual board members, usually in relation to non payment of invoices or the general laziness to sign the checks. Any major repair (usually over $1000) needs the boards approval. And if the boards aren't on the ball or constantly skipping meetings things dont get done.

For example. One of my buildings across from square one had a fire on a balcony. The guy who lives in the apartment has now been waiting 6+months for things to get done. Unfortunately with any condo building I am not alowed to do work on the exterior of the building without management approval. Management needs to get approval from the board. Even though the condo corp (pscc***) isnt actually paying for the work but rather an insurance company. The insurance company has already sent a check to the management company. The board just hasn't given approval. If that makes sense. At least thats what im told.

The easiest way to get changes made is to contact the board directly or become part of it.

I think our management company is Equinox, that's what all the forms say on the bottom