[CCI Admin]

Contact Ajay Parmar at Group Three Property Management. I can tell you the ones to stay away from but not on this public forum.

Darlene I on July 24 2018 at 06:28 PM

[CCI Admin]

This problem, of the smoke smell in the front entrance an foyer, could also be caused by your hallway pressurization not working properly, which is causing the smell to seep into the rest of the building. Whatever system you have at your building, it’s designed to keep a positive pressure in the hallways, pushing or keeping any smells in the unit. Having the patio door open should no affect this if anything it should push the smell out of the unit.

Amber F on August 20 2018 at 08:24 AM

[CCI Admin]

15% of owners can request a Special General Meeting, at which time they can request a non-smoking building, which would then require 75% of the unit values to pass it.

June W on July 27 2018 at 03:43 PM

[CCI Admin]

I assume you have a policy in regards to non-smoking in the common areas, but it is permitted with the suite. That is a tough problem to deal with, especially the fact remains he is in his own personal property, not much anyone can do. If he chooses to ignore everyone’s complaints, then there is nothing that can be done. I often wonder about the new marijuana law that is coming into effective in October 2018. The smell of the marijuana is 10 times worse than cigarette smoke!!! I sure wouldn’t want it around our building!

Julie C on July 24 2018 at 09:35 PM

[CCI Admin]

It seems you cannot force him to stop smoking. But if you approach this as a shared problem rather than a problem owner maybe a solution can be found. If, as you say, this is making it difficult to sell or rent in the building, that should technically affect the owner in question as well. You might also be able to get him to realize that the smoke actually bothers others.

Not sure what solutions may be possible, but it might perhaps include some kind of smoke management system tgat would be purchased and maintained by the condo corp. I know, crazy, right?

Might there be an available unit, farther from the entrance, that could be offered in some kind of trade? Perhaps a guest suite. You’d need to deal with the condition of his old unit before it would be suitable as a guest suite. I know, crazy, right?

Alastair D on July 24 2018 at 09:03 PM

[CCI Admin]

We have had a similar problem and it sure is difficult to deal with. We have a bylaw that says that no resident can interfere with another resident’s pleasure of their unit. Do you have something like that? We asked our gal to close her bathroom doors because the smoke was going up the vents. She had to also install an air purifier in her unit and smoke right by it. Both measures worked somewhat, but not really satisfactorily. I’m sorry this is happening for you and wish you well! Barb Smith

Barbara S on July 24 2018 at 08:44 PM

[CCI Admin]

To overcome that situation is to secretly canvass owners that one can trust and obtain enough proxies or their interest to attend and to control the AGM that belongs to the Owners. Trust would be key.

Ron K on August 09 2018 at 09:10 AM

[CCI Admin]

If loading up with proxies was not allowed, the AGMs would be a lot better. When a few collect enough proxies to over rule the attendees at the meeting they control who gets on the Board and who doesn’t. I hope under the new regulations that owners are only allowed 1/2 proxies each so meetings would be much fairer.

Anne A on August 09 2018 at 08:13 AM

[CCI Admin]

I agree with you Anne A, the owners are the corporation. Refer to section 25 of the Condominium Property Act. The owners should be selecting and electing individuals whom they feel have the skills to manage the complex and whom they trust. The Board is authorized to hire a responsible property manager whom the board is required to supervise. It seems the owners should be reminding the Board every six months by way of a special meeting as to who is serving whom and what is expected of them and the property manager by way of full transparency. The owners must take an interest and to take charge.

Ron K on August 09 2018 at 07:08 AM

[CCI Admin]

If the Management Company and the Board gave out all of the pertinent information regarding the Special Assessment in the first place, ther would be no need for the owners to be worried about what is going on. Our Management Company and our Board do not communicate with the owners very well. They don’t seem to understand that the Corporation is the owners and the owners are entitled to know what is going on in the complex.

Anne A on August 08 2018 at 09:58 PM

[CCI Admin]

Hi Anne

Have you contacted your management company as I am sure they will have all the answers for you.

Cindy S on August 08 2018 at 09:38 PM

[CCI Admin]

If they received a loan, maybe they are using the extra condo fees to pay it down. Is it a new board? Every board will approach finances differently. I’m happy that ours is approaching it the way we have.

shirley g on July 28 2018 at 08:37 AM

[CCI Admin]

We had all the work required done – with the loan. There is no work to be done with this Special Assessment and they have raised the condo fees by $150.00 a month over the last three years.

Anne A on July 27 2018 at 04:35 PM

[CCI Admin]

Shirley.
You are so right. If owners are informed about the Revenue and expenses on a regular basis, the majority would not be surprised, or against getting the Corporation finances in order. Most of us want our Corporation to be “healthy financially “. After all, it is our home and our investment.
Our Corporation also just received a special assessment, and we Owners have not really got a good explanation as to why, and what it is needed for.
I’m in total agreement that for Condo Corporations to be successful, the owners need to be involved and knowledgeable. Boards need to be accessible and open communication is extremely important. If owners are kept involved and in the know, the sense of community grows and everyone is happy. It’s easier to be supportive if you are aware of the issues. Secrets and surprises just makes everyone suspicious and angry.

Jeanette B on July 27 2018 at 08:40 AM

[CCI Admin]

Hello everyone. I am on a board of directors. Last year our new finance board member pointed out to us that our reserve fund and finances were way behind. We had several studies done saying that we needed work done on our balconies, pipes in the parkade, eavestroughs needed to be replaced and other work needed to be done. After many meetings and deliberations we decided to ask for a large assessment. In conjunction with our property manager we wrote a letter of explanation with an assessment notice for 30 to 40 thousand dollars. There was a huge uproar ! We decided to cut it in half and raise the condo fees. The money was really needed. However those who opposed the decision hired a lawyer. The board was hated by some and admired by others.
A very important meeting was held with lawyers from both sides. People voted and the assessment
remained. Several lessons were learned from this!! We should have had a meeting at first to explain the situation. Owners should have asked the board not yelled at them ! Now we have a building committee, a finance committee, and a management committee. People have become more involved than ever before. Communication is so important. Talk to your board.

shirley g on July 26 2018 at 08:36 AM

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