[CCI Admin]

Sounds like your Management Company is using their preferred contractors. Review your agreement with them, if you feel something is not right or you are not familiar with contracts have your corporation lawyer for advice. may be much cheaper in the long run. Ask your self what is best for the Corporation, who authorized this contract. If they are Licensed. they could be breaking the law.

Rod P on August 07 2018 at 04:53 PM

[CCI Admin]

It is the practice of some management companies to charge a percentage of certain invoices to the condominium corporation as an “administration fee” for organizing and supervising the work. As long as that practice is disclosed in advance, I don’t see an issue with that type of arrangement although our company does not add administration fees to invoices.
However, it sounds unethical, if not illegal for a property manager to charge a fee to a service provider in order for them to be able to perform work on behalf of the condominium corporation.

Mark R on August 07 2018 at 03:27 PM

[CCI Admin]

I’ve had some contractors mention that they do this with other companies who keep a “preferred contractor” type of list. However it seems this would place the management company in a certain conflict. I would question whether any contractor who doesn’t pay that type of fee would be at risk of losing work? I can see a lot of problems with this type of “finder’s fee” and can say that our management company does not subscribe to this approach.

Jen M on August 07 2018 at 03:04 PM

[CCI Admin]

I agree with Trudy on this, however, I believe that if it is a licensed brokerage, this may be against RECA regulations for a brokerage as it is essentially a form of kickback to charge a fee to be on their contractor list. This is also just my opinion, but it seems to me to be unethical as well.

Carrie P on August 07 2018 at 03:02 PM

[CCI Admin]

Management Companies differ in the approach in this area and it is an individual business decision. I believe this should be declared to the Board by the manager rather than the information coming from service providers. Each Board then needs to make a decision regarding whether this is appropriate or not. You will want to know by how much this will affect the cost from the service provider to the Corporation. You may want to discuss this with your manager to determine the end affects for your Corporation and get the details of this process.

Trudy Anderson
KDM Management Inc.

Trudy A on August 07 2018 at 02:51 PM

[CCI Admin]

Agree with Green Thumb.

Harvey F.

Harvey F on August 08 2018 at 07:38 PM

[CCI Admin]

Green Thumb Irrigation. Had them for ten years, with excellent service.

Gus V on August 08 2018 at 12:24 PM

[CCI Admin]

The AirBNB is a concern; our bylaws, as advised & written by a qualified lawyer, forbid this practice. But the process described by Trudy A is valid; we follow that practice

Robert M on August 17 2018 at 03:36 PM

[CCI Admin]

Another thing to remember is that the owners must notify the Board/management of the tenant(s) name and contact information within 20 days of occupancy as per the Act. Tenant(s) must sign a form that they have read and agree to abide by the bylaws.

Sandra D on August 17 2018 at 12:18 AM

[CCI Admin]

Well said, Trudy A!

Barb Smith

Barbara S on August 16 2018 at 08:41 PM

[CCI Admin]

Your bylaws cannot prevent the renting of a unit but you can set out requirements to be followed such as a deposit to be paid by the owner to the Corporation and remedies for non-compliance of the bylaws and rules of the property. Tenants are obligated to abide by the bylaws and the rules of the property.

Trudy A.

Trudy A on August 16 2018 at 06:47 PM

[CCI Admin]

Our bylaws state that you can have a total of two pets- cats, dogs, or birds. The dogs must be less than 15″ at the shoulder. All pets are subject to Board approval. I think it is very important to get as close to consensus as possible with bylaws, because we are not supposed to ignore them or make exceptions. They are to be enforced (info from CCI). It can make the Board’s job very difficult if exceptions are made – who remembers who gets the special favours, how is it documented, why are some owners or residents given exceptions while others are not, and especially because Boards change and therefore personal opinions and values change. Our Board has a policy binder with policies written by the Board and handed out to all owners for feedback and editing. Our standard is trying to please 75% of folks with the policies so that we have cooperation. Our Bylaws are followed without exception.

Barbara S on August 21 2018 at 11:32 AM

[CCI Admin]

Board approval of 1 cat spayed or neutered under 10 k.

Susan D on August 20 2018 at 08:28 AM

[CCI Admin]

We have a “no pet” bylaw. Prior to passing this bylaw, a women had a cat that meowed loudly whenever she left her condo. (We are a 33 unit apartment style condo.) This meowing disturbed her next door neighbors. And we had a lady who has a severe allergic reaction to cat fur and dander. Therefore, we passed the “no pet” bylaw and ‘grandfathered the lady who owns the cat. Once it dies, she can no longer bring a cat into the building.
Curtis C.

Curtis C on August 19 2018 at 02:21 PM

[CCI Admin]

We allow 1 pet (cat or dog) under 10 kilos, Board approved and of course, there may be an exception granted, but no more than 2.

Steve T on August 19 2018 at 01:39 PM

[Author]

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