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Legal & Regulatory Updates

Karen Rubin, OLCM, RCM

The Hidden Crisis

in Condo Management

Who’s Protecting the Managers?

Ontario’s fast-growing condomin- The challenges go far beyond what support or legal recourse to alleviate
ium market has long been the focus we originally signed up for; they have these ongoing challenges, manage-
of increasing regulation to improve become an unsustainable emotional ment teams and boards are left to
governance, transparency, and account- burden. With limited resources and manage the situation as best as they
ability. While these rules are a win for support, managers and management can within their limited means.
condo owners and tenants, they often companies are left to handle these issues
overlook a crucial group at the heart of mainly on their own, affecting their The Threat of Personal
this growing industry: condominium work and personal well-being. Campaigns and Escalated
managers. These professionals are Complaints
responsible for maintaining the day- The Complexities of Managing In some instances, managers may
to-day operations in buildings that can Vulnerable Residents find themselves targeted by residents
house hundreds of residents. One of the more complex situations who perceive them as obstacles to their
In Ontario, while the condo indus- faced by condo managers involves concerns. This can escalate to personal
try has benefited from increasing residents who, due to mental health campaigns to dismiss the manager,
regulations for the sake of owners and struggles, may act out in ways that often driven by grievances that lack
tenants, condo managers and manage- disrupt community living. This can legitimate grounds. For example, a
ment companies find themselves in a leave managers and boards with manager may enforce essential safety
vulnerable position. We are tasked with ongoing issues—frequent damage regulations, like fire codes, as directed
maintaining properties and supporting to common areas, repeated rule by municipal authorities. Yet, a resident
the residents—sometimes in challeng- violations, and heightened security may disregard the advice of leading Photo: ©iStock.com/ SvetaZi
ing, even volatile situations—without costs—which affect other residents experts, such as a municipal fire chief,
adequate recourse when faced with through additional maintenance fees who has issued a clear mandate that
aggressive or unfounded complaints. and other resources. With no external certain safety features, like fire doors,
36 I CM Magazine WINTER 2024