Educational - CCI GRAND RIVER

Helpful Resources for Condominium Owners

April 28, 2022/in Educational

When an owner has a question related to their condominium and/or condominium living in general, their first instinct is to likely seek out an answer for themselves. Below outlines many of the helpful resources that an owner could make use of while undertaking review of a question or concern with respect to a condominium in the province of Ontario.

A search in other areas of Canada or North America may provide insight into a relevant matter, but due to differing laws, the resource from outside Ontario may provide improper information if taken into consideration in Ontario. Always remember to ensure any resources are applicable in the province of Ontario.

An owner’s most direct resource would always be their corporation’s governing documents, including the declaration, by-laws, and rules. These documents will apply directly to your corporation.
The next resource would be the Condominium Authority of Ontario resource page located at the link provided below. This webpage contains multiple links for various matters along with forms you may require while undertaking an informational review of your corporation. https://www.condoauthorityontario.ca/resources/
Let’s not forgot a call to your corporation’s manager could, depending on the inquiry, be a simple conversation to resolve a concern or question.
Another great resource especially with broader questions or scope would be the Condominium Act, 1998, S.O. 1998, c. 19, which can be found in its current version at https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/98c19
If you need additional information as it relates to managers and/or the management of your corporation, a great resource would be the Condominium Management Regulatory Authority of Ontario website, which can be found at https://cmrao.ca/
National, regional, or local condominium association websites and/or meetings when available are a great resource of information and presentations that are typically accessible and searchable online with tools such as Google, or by way of direct links. This includes our own CCI website: https://cci-grc.ca/
Much of the time with a specific online search you will encounter legal articles or law blogs pertaining to your inquiry. This information can certainly provide clarity with respect to applicable matters but should be qualified as factual or merely opinions relating to a specific topic. Regardless, this type of information can be helpful when reviewing a topic.

The above-noted resources are likely where you will be able to find useful information as it relates to condominiums and condominiums living in Ontario.

If further research is required beyond the above, a person may need advice or information that is very specific or direct in nature and should seek the advice of a professional in the applicable field.

Corey Sargeant
President, G3 Property Solutions Ltd
www.g3propertysolutions.ca

How to Maximize Networking Opportunities at Tradeshows and Conferences

April 14, 2022/in Educational

In professional services, it is so important to build a network. Whether you’re fresh out of the gate or a well-seasoned expert, your network is your business lifeline. The challenge is… how do you build it?

It is widely regarded that trade shows and conferences are the way to go when looking to meet like-minded individuals in your industry. In fact, you are set up for success with these types of events. Each person that attends is either invested or interested in the same subject matter at hand. Armed with that knowledge, how can you ensure that you are maximizing your networking time and getting the biggest bang for your tradeshow buck?

Be Prepared.

Take some time to make a plan and better understand what you’re looking to get out of the tradeshow/conference in general, as well as the networking portion. Are you there to meet business allies? Future employers? Recruiting talent? Potential clients? Once you know who or what you’re looking for, you can review the exhibitor list, check out the speakers, and plan for what you want to see. If you have a list of people or businesses you want to connect with while you’re there, you’ll spend less time wandering the halls and more time making business connections.

Know What to Say.

We’re all a little out of practice at in-person events, but even before we took a 2-year hiatus it was a good idea to practice your “elevator pitch”. You’re here at this event with a purpose, and whatever it is, you need to be able to convey it to people you speak to in a concise manner. Work on introducing yourself, explaining what you do and then have some ice breaker questions lined up. You don’t need to practice endlessly to the point that you sound rehearsed and robotic, but you also don’t want to be caught on the spot with nothing to say. Give it some thought, but don’t obsess.

Card-Carrying.

Make sure you have plenty of up-to-date business cards handy and plan for what you’ll do with the ones you will collect. The last thing you want is to reach into your pocket to pull out someone else’s card and be left fumbling in front of someone. Consider having a place for your cards and a separate location for the ones you collect. Be sure to sort and organize the ones you receive as soon as you return to your home or hotel room to be sure you don’t lose any potential leads.

Sign Up and Get Involved.

There are always a host of opportunities to play games, interact, or participate in something going on. Get out there and have some fun. You never know what it could lead to. Be sure to put your name down for any newsletters that might be appropriate and get some free swag! Inspiration, connection, or a lead could be waiting for you to take a leap. This is your chance to make a memorable impression or to ask a question you’ve been waiting to ask. You’re already here, you might as well make it worthwhile!

Be a Sponge.

Absorb as much as you can. Learn about new products, organizations, practices…. any topic that is being shared! This is your chance to learn about things heading towards your industry or changing the way you work. Really listen to those you speak to and take in the knowledge. There is a wealth of knowledge available to you at these events and making it a point to learn as much as you can, will really help you get the most out of it.

Size-up the Competition.

It’s not every day that you get to stand shoulder to shoulder with your business competitors. Take the time to check out their booths and even have a friendly chat with them if you can. Remember, they’re competitors, not your enemy. Take a moment to see how they’re presenting themselves, what they are promoting and how they’re attracting people to their booths. Conversely, this is their chance to see what you have been up to. If you’re hosting a booth be sure to put your best foot forward and show them what you’ve got.

Above all else, enjoy yourself! It’s nice to be back out at in-person events. Learn as much as you can and be in the moment. Take notes and don’t forget to get as many free pens and goodies as you can. That’s the real perk of going to these events.

Tianna Brown
Senior Communications Specialist, RLB LLP
https://www.rlb.ca/

The Pros and Cons of Condo Living

April 4, 2022/in Educational

Investing in a condo may seem like the right choice because of the price, but what really are the pros and cons of condo living?

The housing market is heavy with condominium listings. For those looking to invest in a condominium, you may have some questions about what you’re getting yourself into.

Specifically, in the Guelph area, listings have increased by 40%. Many folks in Toronto have realized that the commute from Brampton and the commute from Guelph are quite similar. However, Guelph’s housing market is a fraction of the price.

Outdoor maintenance, storage, parking, and pets. These are all factors that you don’t really think too much about when buying a semi-detached or detached home. However, they do play a large role in how your condo community will work. So, how exactly does it work? You’ll want to keep reading!

Outdoor Maintenance

Are you someone who has never enjoyed any type of garden work? Mowing lawns, tending to weeds, or turning the soil? How about in those ghastly winter months with the endless shoveling? Certainly, there have been moments where you wish someone would handle all that work for you.

Luckily, in a condominium, much of the outdoor maintenance you yourself would have had to do in the past, will be covered in your condo fees, and done for you! Instead of struggling with that one pesky daisy who just doesn’t want to blossom, you can sit back and enjoy the view.

However, there are a lot of condominiums that do not offer much of a green space. Although many developments are working on constructing more green spaces, this is something you want to consider, especially if you have pets you want to walk around with, or if you are a person who enjoys strolls through the park.

Consider also how some condos not only lack green space, but also do not have a balcony to sit on. For many, this could be an issue. Especially if you are the type of person who enjoys sitting with a glass of wine on a warm summer’s eve as the sun sets slowly.

Storage Spaces

In most condos, the average storage space is about 4ft by 8ft, and can vary in distance from your unit. There are some storage units in the basement, some on every floor, and some connected to your unit. Also consider the distance you’ll need to travel and weight of what you are exchanging from your unit to storage.

Many may enjoy downsizing, purging their belongings, and feel the relief of “spring cleaning”. Though there are many others that may feel conflicted and would either look at renting an additional storage unit, or begging their parents to keep some cherished memories.

Also consider the condo’s rules and regulations, including rules on what you are allowed to keep in your storage unit, and the condo board’s enforcement rights should you choose to ignore the rules.

Take paint cans as an example. Innocent enough, right? Maybe you re-painted your kitchen and had leftover paint. Maybe it’s a custom colour, and you really don’t want to toss it, so you keep it in your storage unit.

Did you know that in most condo buildings, if the property manager is walking through with the fire department and they catch that paint can, they have the right to cut into your storage unit and remove it? These are situations to consider should you want to enter the condo community.

Parking Areas

A major pro that a lot of condo buildings have is the secure, underground, temperature-controlled parking. Since your outdoor maintenance is handled for you, the winter season is a breeze (so long as you move your car, as needed, when the plow comes).

However, most units only come with one car parking space. Some unit owners with two or more cars may begin to eye the visitor parking and improperly use those spaces for additional spots, which will mean the visitor parking spots will be full should actual visitors come.

Being mindful of your neighbours and the building rules, is a huge part of being a part of the condo community.

Pets, Pets, and Pets

You are at the mercy of your neighbours. You live beside, above, and below, your community, and you do need to be respectful and thoughtful of that. There is no guarantee of silence. This is something you need to accept. Sometimes you will hear their tv, their music, or their pets. Remember: you share walls. This also means that pet owners should be diligent and respectful when it comes to noise.

Be mindful that there are condo buildings that have rules and regulations when it comes to pets as well. For example: maybe their rule is no pets over 40 pounds, but you have adopted a dog that at the time, is 20 pounds, but you as the unit owner know will grow to be much more. This can put a lot of people in uncomfortable situations. Keep in mind that what you purchased comes with a set of rules.

These are only the tip of the iceberg of what you should consider when looking to invest in a condo unit or building. Hire a real estate agent or a lawyer who can walk you through the rules of condo living so that you know what you are buying into.

Are you a current condo unit or building owner struggling to navigate how you can be better informed? Be involved. Go to the annual general meeting. Use the resources that are provided for you.

You can also keep informed and up to date by following CCI-Grand River Chapter, or the Chapter that your condo resides in.

Maggie Matian
Marketing Manager, CCI Grand River

Education, Information, Awareness, Canadian Condominium Institute, Southwestern Ontario, Condo owners, Golf Tournament, conference 2022

Getting Personal With Your Tax Filing

March 31, 2022/in Educational

Personal tax season is approaching quickly! We wanted to provide a general guide on how to get ready for submitting your income taxes.

Collecting your information

Missing information is the most common place to make a mistake when filing your tax returns. There are a lot of tax forms and other paperwork to consider when preparing your return; or collecting your paperwork for your accountant.

Here are some common tax slips and other important documents to consider:

· T4 – Employment income – this will come from your employer and summarizes wages for the year

· T3, T5 – Investment income – these slips will show dividends, interest, and trust income that you receive from non-registered investments.

· T4AP, T4OAS – These show income from your CPP Pension and Old Age Security, if you are experienced enough to receive these amounts!

· T4RSP, T4RIF – These slips show income drawn from your RRSP, or from your RRIF, if your RRSP has been converted at age 71.

· T4E – this shows any income you have from Service Canada for Employment Insurance – most commonly for unemployment or paternity benefits.

· RRSP Contributions – if you’re contributing to an RRSP, either on your own or through your employer, you should receive a contribution receipt for March – December 2021, as well as one for January/February of 2022.

· Charitable Donation Receipts – any registered charity that you have donated to during 2021 should issue you a receipt listing the eligible donation amount, as well as their registered charity number.

· Medical expenses – if you have significant medical expenses (there is a threshold you must exceed to get credit), the cost of out-of-pocket expenses is a tax credit.

· Temporary Flat Rate Method for Home Office Expenses – this deduction introduced in 2020 has been extended to 2021 and 2022. If you worked from home at least 50% of the time for at least four weeks, you are eligible to claim a $2/day deduction without any supporting documentation required for every day you worked at home. This is for working days – so don’t include any weekends, statutory holidays, or vacation days you didn’t work from home.

A full general tax preparation checklist can be found here on the RLB website – alternatively contact your accountant for a checklist personalized to your situation.

If you are self-employed, you’ll need to summarize your income and expenses – you can find a template here to help put things in the right category to report. Keep in mind if you have taxable sales over $30,000 per year you are required to register for HST.

Similarly, if you have a rental property, you’ll need to summarize your rent collected and your expenses against that rent.

For both self-employment and rental income, anything you pay out of pocket to earn income is an expense against income. Make sure you consider vehicle expenses, home office expenses, and parking.

Preparing to file

Once you have all your information and documentation, you can get ready to file! Using a tax professional is a great option if you aren’t comfortable with the process of filing tax returns, or if you have complex tax issues such as capital gains or investment properties. Providing complete information to your tax preparer is important to help ensure nothing gets missed. Consider including a copy of your 2020 tax return as well as your Notice of Assessment with the information you give to your tax preparer.

You can also file your return on your own. CRA provides a number of free electronic filing options on its website here. It is recommended to review your 2020 tax return before completing 2021 to make sure there isn’t a tax slip that hasn’t arrived in the mail yet, and that everything makes sense when you compare year to year. It is very important to make sure you report all income as there are severe penalties for unreported income.

The “Shoulda, Coulda, Wouldas” of Condominium Repairs

March 24, 2022/in Educational

By a show of hands, how many of us have ignored a simple repair, only for it to become a large, complicated pain later on?

Whether it was a case of not having enough time, or not knowing whose responsibility the repair fell under, one ignored repair can oftentimes turn into a stack of pricey problems.

So, how do we avoid the “should, coulda, wouldas” of condominium repairs? Oftentimes, it’s beneficial to retrace our steps and go back to the root of the problem.

Understanding Core Responsibilities

Whether condominium manager, unit owner, or building owner, it’s important to understand each other’s core responsibilities. Concerned if a leaky pipe is yours to fix? Make sure your board is aware of all issues as soon (or as close to) as they occur, and that professional advice is sought after right from the get-go.

Know Your Condominium Resources

When was the last time there was a scheduled general walk-through? Is there a contractor that your condominium typically uses? Having regularly scheduled walk-throughs and communicating the appropriate dates with all parties is crucial to building a community of trust. Organize regular check-ins within your condominium community to nurture an environment where hiding, or downplaying a repair issue becomes a seldom habit.

Don’t Ignore the Small Stuff

It’s tempting. A small crack here, one leaky faucet there. It won’t hurt anyone, right? Unfortunately, this is something we are all guilty of. Don’t put off tomorrow, what you can do today. It’s never a good feeling when you walk into a problem, knowing that if it had been handled earlier, it wouldn’t be running up your financial bill as high as it is now.

Hearing the word “repairs” shouldn’t send your body into a shockwave. If you backtrack to the root of what derailed a complicated repair issue, it can typically be summed up into those three parts: not understanding core responsibilities, being unaware of crucial resources, and ignoring the “small” stuff until it explodes in your face.

Cultivate your community, and always remember to reach out to your condominium board for any support or advice you may need.

Maggie Matian
Marketing Manager for CCI Grand River

SPRING FORWARD – in Your Condominium Landscaping!

March 17, 2022/in Educational

It’s March! With the first real warm rays of spring about to caress our faces, our thoughts turn to the warm days of summer and once again enjoying the outdoors!

Now is the time to get things approved to ensure your condo community can benefit THIS YEAR from the investments you make! At your upcoming Board Meeting, create a plan to discuss your outdoor landscapes. What provided enjoyment over the past year(s)? Are there any spaces that could benefit from a “refresh”? Is there a larger project, that by pre-planning now, could experience a successful start for enjoyment in 2023? Are there areas that provide safety concerns for unit owners?

Here are some ideas to consider now in the expectancy of warmer days ahead.

Turf Enhancements.

The best defense against weeds and unwanted pests is a healthy lawn. While many annual landscape maintenance contracts include regular fertilizer applications, this is often where turf care stops for condo boards. Regular, proactive care relating to your turf can save thousands of dollars in the long term. Consider adding regular weed treatments, core aeration, topdressing and seeding to your regular care. Many properties have turf areas that are heavily shaded and/or where there is high foot traffic; grass just won’t grow. Consider amending these areas by replacing the compacted earth with mulch and/or stepping stones.

Mulching your Garden Beds.

Mulching is one of the best things you can do for your gardens. You have likely seen the positive impact that is immediately evident following an application of fresh mulch. Not only does mulch provide a barrier for weed growth, mulch also helps your garden retain the needed moisture allowing plants and shrubs to thrive. Mulch will help prevent rainwater from washing away your soil. Furthermore, if you use an organic mulch (shredded pine bark mulch is recommended), it will release valuable nutrients in the soil as it naturally decomposes.

Rejuvenate Shrubs and Garden Beds.

Over time the existing garden beds and shrubs on your property can really start to show their age. Depending on the amount of maintenance they receive in an ongoing manner throughout the year, a rejuvenation is a fantastic way to provide an immediate improvement that will be evident to all owners. A rejuvenation involves horticultural pruning to shrubs such that new, fresh growth is encouraged. The early days of spring are optimal to have this service provided! Not only will this provide a fresh, new look, it is also very healthy for the plant material.

Enhance Entrance Signage.

How is your complex distinguishable from others in the neighbourhood? Are the name and address visible? Adding (or enhancing) your entrance sign will provide a positive focal point for visitors and potential buyers. Adding some lighting will provide for year-round interest as you enter and leave your complex. From a safety perspective, a well-placed and visible sign is a beacon in times of emergency for first responders.

Corrective Drainage Solutions.

Spring run-off and melting snow accentuates the wet, soggy areas of condo properties; we all know where the wet spots are on our properties! Given the high density of the building projects in recent years, there is less surface area for spring runoff and rain water to be absorbed into the ground. Pooling of water can also occur in areas where the ground has been saturated. A corrective measure, while not providing an impact that can be seen, will solve an annual nuisance and provide enjoyment for years to come.

Create a Place for Community.

Do you have an area that is frequented by many of your unit owners? Is there an underutilized common area? Consider the impact that adding a community garden might have. Permanent benches added in common areas give the message “stay a while”.

The coming weeks can provide a great opportunity for planning to ensure success in the coming warm season of 2022. We all know the intensity that spring provides: spring clean-ups, scheduled walk-arounds, etc. Moreover, your service provider’s capacities will be most stretched in the busy days of May and June. Proactive planning in March and April allows for project scheduling so your ideas can be implemented in a timeframe that works for you. There is no better way to jettison the ugly memories of grey snow piles than to anticipate the arrival of spring.

Make it an agenda item for your April board meeting!

Andrew Westrik, Sales Manager/Landscape Sales
www.wpn.ca

5 Tips to Keep Your Virtual Meetings Productive

March 10, 2022/in Educational

Whether it be a virtual meeting, conference, or webinar, either can be tough to get through while keeping them productive. Being behind a screen for the last couple years has taken away any excitement that was left behind the simplicity of virtual meetings.

Floods of “can you hear me’s”, paired with an ominous blank screen staring right back at you. It can be exhausting to lead any type of proactive discussion. Can they hear you? Is your screen frozen? Have they muted you while they go about their other tasks?

You can’t control everything that happens on the other side of the screen, but you can be proactive to ensure that you set yourself up to lead your next virtual meeting with ease.

Make sure they know who will be leading the meeting.

Meeting, conference, or webinar: your audience and team will want to know who will be the main speakers of the event. This should be detailed in all communication, from the first event invite, to all social posts and any update after. By giving your meeting a “face”, you humanize the digital element of the virtual meeting.

2. Greet every guest as they come in.

Certainly, you make sure to greet guests as they come in, but how many could you confidently say are given a personal greeting? If you find yourself in the middle of a conversation with one guest, and another guest has entered, try to find a way to work them into the conversation. Invite them to participate, or politely interject that you acknowledge their presence. By doing this, not only do you elicit a guest to use their “off-mic” option, but you may even see a camera or two turn on.

How you start your meeting will determine the mood throughout the lecture. Making and maintaining a connection with your guests is imperative to virtual meeting success

3. Let guests know when they can ask questions.

What may seem obvious to you, may not to another guest. Before you formally start, take a moment to relay how you will be presenting your material, and when you have planned for questions. Be clear if you’d prefer they keep their questions until certain parts of the presentation, or if you can take questions while presenting.

Additionally, remind your guests of the use of the “hand up” tool on most virtual conference apps. Not only does this feature give a polite nudge to the speaker that someone would like to speak, it also puts them in order. As long as you are taking questions from left to right, then you are going by the order in which the hands were raised.

If you have set time aside at the end for a Q&A, make sure your audience knows this prior to starting the lecture. You may have some guests who will stress about not having enough time for you to answer their questions if you don’t answer them in the middle of your presentation. By letting them know that you have set time aside, you are alleviating any unnecessary stress that anyone in your audience may be feeling.

4. Make time for breaks.

This isn’t as crucial if your meeting is under an hour.

However, once you start ranging on the 1.5-2 hour mark, you should be planning for a quick break.

The unofficial rule for breaks is 5-minutes for every hour. So, for 1.5-hours, that’s approximately 7-minutes. No matter the content, staring at a screen for long periods of time is draining. Breaks are necessary for ensuring your guests have the capacity to take in new information and have the energy to continue to participate in the meeting.

For example, if you are hosting a 3-hour meeting: plan for a 15-minute break at the 1.5-hour mark. Ask your guests to return within 10-minutes, and then not only do you have a 5-minute buffer for any straggler, those final few minutes before you pull the focus back on you, but your audience is also free to engage together across the screens

5. Give everyone an opportunity to speak at the end of the meeting.

After your Q&A (if you have planned for one), take a moment to give your guests the floor to speak on any final thoughts they may have.

This is also where you want to include and/or summarize the next steps, not only for yourself but for any attendee you’ve allocated any kind of responsibility to.

For example –

Mary will have the report by next Friday.

Jerry will touch base with Mike by end of the day.

The speaker will send out meeting notes by tomorrow morning.

You’ll want to aim to end your meeting with the same energy as you’ve started. No one should be leaving your meeting feeling drained, and uninspired to carry out their task. Luckily for you, you’ve followed our 5 tips to ensure your meeting was successfully executed!

Maggie Matian
Marketing Manager for CCI Grand River

Conference Sponsorship, annual conference, annual golf tournament, Grand River Chapter, Canadian Condominium Institute, Become a Member

Going Electric: Electric Vehicles in Condominiums

March 3, 2022/in Educational

Do you have an electric vehicle, or would you like to get an electric vehicle, and are wondering how to charge that electric vehicle at your condominium? Electric vehicles are becoming more and more common, and that is fantastic news for the environment. But is your condominium equipped to deal with this change?

If you are unsure about your condominium’s rules and infrastructure regarding electric vehicle charging systems (“EV charging systems”), start by checking the following resources:

Read your condominium’s declaration and rules.

If you do not have copies of the declaration and rules already, ask your property manager and/or board of directors. Does the declaration and/or rules discuss electric vehicles and EV charging systems? If you live in a newer condominium, the documents might. If you’re in an older condominium, the documents likely do not.

When reviewing the electric vehicle provisions in your condominium documents, consider whether they answer the following questions: who pays for the installation of the EV charging system? Who pays the ongoing costs, including monthly hydro bills, maintenance and repair, and insurance? Hint: it’s probably you.

Review your rights under the Condominium Act, 1998 (the “Act”).

Under the Act, an owner can apply to the corporation for an installation of an EV charging system. That means you can ask the board if you can install an EV charging system, and if your application complies with the Act, the board has only a limited list of reasons why they could reject your application. Reasons for rejection include, but are not limited to, if the installation will pose a serious risk: (1) to the health and safety of an individual, or (2) of damage to the property or assets of the condominium.

If your application is approved, you must enter a written agreement with the corporation regarding the installation which will be registered on title to your unit. Again, the requirements for the agreement are set out in the Act. The agreement will discuss, among other things:

the manner of installation and cost-allocation for installation of the EV charging system;
duties and responsibilities of both the corporation and the owner, including costs of use, operation, repair after damage, maintenance, and insurance of the EV charging system; and
ownership of the EV charging system.

The corporation can also propose an EV charging system installation to the owners, and if approved by the owners in compliance with the Act, the EV charging system can be installed by the corporation with the costs of the system installation being common expenses of the condominium.

Speak with your property manager and/or board of directors.

You might not be the first owner to approach your property manager or board with this question, and they may already be considering EV charging system options that could benefit you and other owners.

Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly common, and it’s time for condominiums to get on board!

Annie Bailey, Associate Lawyer
www.rcllp.ca

Where Does Social Media Take Your Condominium?

February 24, 2022/in Educational

Social media is an ever-evolving beast. Once you get comfortable with one algorithm, there have since been five updates, and a new sub-app that everyone is telling you to use. It’s understandable that most find themselves wanting to pull their hair out once tasked with social media managing. This can be especially frustrating if you are already overwhelmed should anyone utter “social media” around you.

Where do you start? How do you map out your KPIs? What’s keeping all this from becoming too overwhelming and getting away from you?

It’s clear that social media is key to your continued success, and understanding how to utilize this tool will make marketing much less intimidating.

Understanding the Importance of Marketing Your Condominium or Company

At its core, marketing your condominium, your management company, or your business can be simplified to one word: connection.

Engaging with your audience, whether occupant, potential buyer, or industry network, is crucial to building a strong, positive reputation. People are in constant search of connection, and if you can strategize a way to appeal to your masses in a way that is more personable rather than robotic, you are on the right track.

Given how we are as a society, it’s important to understand one key thing: anyone who has never heard of you will look up your social media.

Anyone. Everyone. Staying relevant, consistent, and approachable online will help when it comes to first and lasting impressions.

The first thing you need to do is choose your preferred social media platform. You do not need to be on every single main platform, but you should be utilizing at least two. Take the time to get to know the platforms, and ensure that those platforms are where your audiences will likely spend their time.

Once you narrow down which social media apps your audience uses, and which ones you feel confident using, the rest will fall into place.

Measuring Your Social Media Success

It’s not always about the number of likes a post gets. Though we all like to see that count rise, and get a little giddy when we see higher double and triple digits, there is more to measuring than meets the eye.

Reach. Engagement. Total follows. Those are three areas where you always want to see in the green. Making sure your content goes out at the right time, on the right day, will ensure you hit those first two targets. The followers, will follow.

Monitoring Your Social Media

Social media is both simple and complicated. It can get away from you easily, and pile up under a mountain of updates and missed insights.

If we circle back to your online reputation, there is one area of social media that you absolutely do not want to ignore.

Reviews.

By a show of hands, how many of us can say we monitor our online reviews, regularly? How many of us can say we know how to handle negative reviews or online disputes?

Monitoring your tone online is a difficult task, and is especially difficult when you’re handling uncomfortable situations. And even more so, if the person handling the situation is already frustrated.

The key to handling negative reviews is to deal with them ASAP. Since we’re now in the habit of checking our reviews regularly, it’ll become much easier to regulate your online presence.

If you come across a negative note or comment, here are some quick steps to handling it:

Read the comment carefully.
- Ensure you understand exactly what the commenter is talking about, and if not, reach out to your team to see if anyone was involved with the interaction.
Respond to them promptly.
- Take the time to give them a thoughtful response. Acknowledge their experience, apologize for the circumstances, and invite them to discuss the matter privately whether through direct message or phone call.
Once resolved, ensure you update the review/comment. You can encourage the original poster to do so, but there is no harm with replying to the public comment with an update (i.e., we have touched base with Ms. Doe about X issue and are happy to announce that we have found a resolution. We thank everyone who has taken the time to share their feedback.).
There is no harm in asking for support from your condo board or marketing team. Reach out if you feel unsure of how to handle any social media-related situation.

Social media is a great tool. Being able to connect with your audiences regularly will allow you to stay at the top of their list.

Using your platforms wisely, understanding your KPIs, and managing public reviews will have you running like a well-oiled machine.

This is no easy feat. Working with a social media professional, or an online marketing professional can take some of the digital weight off your shoulders.

Luckily, there is a plethora of information and resources out there in regards to social media and your digital presence. Stay tuned for our upcoming pieces as we discuss monitoring Facebook Groups, and understanding how “brand” affects you.

Maggie Matian, Theresa Place Media
www.theresaplace.ca

Unit Owners’ Responsibility for their Occupants:

February 10, 2022/in Educational

December 2021, York C.C. No 188 v. Caudhry, et al, 2021 ONSC 7027; & York Region C.C. No. 794 v. Watson, et al, 2021 ONSC 6574

Incessant and harassing emails, phone calls, and intimidating and threatening behaviour are all too common for condominium boards and property managers. In York C.C. No. 188 v. Chaudhry, et al, and York Region C.C. No. 794 v. Watson, et al, the Courts dealt with situations where this type of behaviour needed to be addressed and determined that these actions amounted to “dangerous activities” under section 117 of the Condominium Act, 1998 (the “Act’).

Facts

In both cases the units were occupied by the owners’ adult children. The boards and property managers were bombarded by emails, voicemails, faxes. and confronted personally by the occupants, including threats of physical violence. The occupants relentlessly accused the boards and property managers of racism, plotting criminal activities, fraud, and other false conduct. This was considered intimidating, harassing, and threatening by the condominiums.

The owners/parents of the occupants received multiple notices from the condominiums, counsel, and the police, regarding the conduct of the occupants. Despite this, the owners did not take appropriate steps to curtail the behaviour and even appeared to further the campaign. The respective condominiums were required to commence compliance applications in Court, seeking orders to curtail this egregious behaviour.

The Courts’ Findings

The Courts noted that condominiums are required to take all reasonable steps to ensure that that the owners and occupiers comply with the Act, including preventing harassing conduct. The Courts also found that incessant harassing correspondence amounted to dangerous activities, as the behaviour of the occupants was likely to cause injury to an individual. “Injury”, can include, “psychological harm that is beyond a trifling nature.” This type of behaviour, specifically when directed at a property manager, may also trigger the Occupation Health and Safety Act, as property managers are entitled to a safe and harassment-free work environment. The conduct of the occupants in the present cases is a clear example of such.

The Courts ordered the occupants to vacate the units and cease all communications with the condominiums and their property managers. Such a remedy is powerful and reserved only for the most serious of instances.

Regarding the owners, the Courts noted that section 119(2) of the Act provides that the owners themselves are responsible for taking all reasonable steps to ensure that their occupants comply. Neither owner took reasonable steps to ensure this, if any at all. As a result significant costs were awarded to the condominiums and were added to the common expenses payable for the owners’ units.

Bottom Line

Where an owner/occupant will not stop harassing and intimidating others, including incessant and threatening correspondence, the Courts have determined such is a dangerous activity, and condominiums have remedies available to them. This kind of unwarranted behaviour can amount to “psychological harm” and includes inflammatory and harassing emails and phone calls.

For those unit owners who own units occupied by problematic, and even dangerous occupants, these cases highlight the positive obligation on owners to assist in curtailing the behaviour. Failure to take appropriate and reasonable actions may lead to significant cost consequences. Unit owners cannot simply allow their unit to be occupied by others and wash their hands of any responsibility.

Are you facing a similar situation? Contact your condominium legal team today.

Christopher Mendes, Associate, B.A. (Hons), M.A., J.D.
www.svplaw.ca
*This article does not constitute legal advice, always consult legal counsel.