Apartment & Condo lifestyle discussion

^ Yeah, our strata levied fines pretty strictly for parties.  Problems are pretty rare for a building downtown that has a lot of young people in it.  However, the police can also be called if it comes to that.  Stratas can unilaterally evict problem tenants, though I imagine that takes relatively long paper trail of abuses.  I don't think stratas can place actual liens on properties for fines (though they can for assessments), but they can refuse to sign transfer documents until outstanding fines are paid, so its kind of the same thing. A lien is more powerful because you can foreclose on a lien, whereas you can't foreclose on someone who doesn't pay their fines.   

WRT partying, I think a broken windows approach is the best; crack down early and often and tenants (and their landlords) get the idea.

Are strats powerless to do anything about individuals who disturb their neighbours?

I think it depends on the disturbances.  As irritating as it might be, no reasonable strata will levy a fine for someone doing laundry at 8AM on a Sunday.  But if there's a problem with regular partying then that should be dealt with. 

I think we fined a couple with a kid in our building due to noise. Then again, kids, pets, BBQs and anything resembling a life is frowned upon around here.

Edited by johnk, 20 May 2015 - 04:07 PM.

Do they result in fines, though? And who gets the fine, the landlord or the tenant? It just seems to me like I keep hearing of people who have problem neighbours in their buildings but nothing happens as far as the strata enforcing regulations.

We have fined owners on occasion. We did just that last month, actually.

We are now starting to think about going to a condo and our biggest concern is about stumbling into the strata from hell. There are a few around town where one nutbar wreaks havoc or a few members are at each other's throats to the detriment of all, or through apathy a clique of power-seekers grabs hold of the council.

That's always a risk.  Some buildings struggle to get people on council period, others struggle to get the right people on.  You could have a great council one year, then a terrible one for the next 5. 

You might end up with a council that works well together, or one plagued with infighting and disagreements.  You could get a council that looks at issues pragmatically and with little personal bias, or you could end up with councillors who are in it for the power and glory. 

We've had them all in my building over the last 10 years. 

We are now starting to think about going to a condo and our biggest concern is about stumbling into the strata from hell. There are a few around town where one nutbar wreaks havoc or a few members are at each other's throats to the detriment of all, or through apathy a clique of power-seekers grabs hold of the council.

This is a definite risk, but I think it's not that likely. Most people are rational, but I also think any complex of more than 5 units is likely to have

a) An odd character 

b) A control freak

c) Personality conflicts

We have one owner who is just odd. Her personality is just off and she is perpetually concerned that we are going to get sued, fined by the city or void some sort of warranty for the weirdest stuff. She had a meltdown last week because the garbage guy threw the contents of our organics bins stuff in with the garbage...most people are like whatever, no big deal, but she demanded to read the contract, and thought this was grounds to void our service agreement, etc etc.

I would be concerned if I read through the minutes and saw that one or two owners were doing everything. I think it's good sign when more owners are involved. 

We have one owner who is just odd. Her personality is just off and she is perpetually concerned that we are going to get sued, fined by the city or void some sort of warranty for the weirdest stuff. She had a meltdown last week because the garbage guy threw the contents of our organics bins stuff in with the garbage...most people are like whatever, no big deal, but she demanded to read the contract, and thought this was grounds to void our service agreement, etc etc.

I would be concerned if I read through the minutes and saw that one or two owners were doing everything. I think it's good sign when more owners are involved.

We have a compulsive obsessive lady above us who washes 6-7 loads of laundry almost everyday! We don't know her circumstances but it sure is annoying! The sound of her washing machine starting up makes me cringe!

Oh that's not right...

35 years owning detached homes and moved last year to a Victoria condo.  Haven't had a single issue in our building and love it but we did lots of research before we purchased.  My own experience is that we had more trouble with people in nearby houses in our former neighborhoods and single detached homes can be just as much of a gamble.  All it takes is one individual or family to create lots of tension and frustration with cars, parties, shouting and garbage.  It can happen anywhere in just about any neighborhood and certainly is not exclusive to condo living.

You only have one owner like that? Lucky you. We just had someone complain that our irrigation system was started up several months early.

Well, we only have 15 units...

Ha.. was just reading this thread & thinking in my head that I loved my (rented) condo & never notice my neighbours..  

Then a whiff of pot smoke streamed into the house from the balcony below ( I forget about this for half the year!)  -   Here starts the season of me being paranoid about smoke entering my home (man, it goes through the place quick!)

Otherwise I'm a top corner suite & I never hear anyone and feel like the condo feels like a single home. 

 (Though guess if that was the case I wouldnt have to be crazily sniff sniff sniffing at the window to see what's happening outside of it)

Wishing there were more smoke-free buildings as I feel there would be quite a demand for that!

One good thing - My next door neighbour was smoking cigarettes almost directly outside my window (also goes through the whole condo within minutes) & I approached him & asked him to move over to the other side of the balcony (thinking he has a right to smoke on his balcony, but I have a right for smoke not to be in my home.)   After approaching him, he hasn't smoked on his balcony since!  (Moved to a rooftop patio where there really are no neighbouring windows -good call!)

I may consider approaching the person below me about the pot smoke - what are other people's opinions on that? Perhaps I should suggest the rooftop balcony for that as well?  (Would have to walk up 1 floor but it is a private unused area.)   My partner has lung damage (from cancer radiation) so I feel it is justified to be particular about these things.  Anyone else have experience or thoughts about smoking on balconies? 

Edited by curlyfry, 21 May 2015 - 02:54 PM.

...I may consider approaching the person below me about the pot smoke - what are other people's opinions on that? ...

My opinion: I should NEVER have to breath in second-hand pot smoke.

True. I guess I shouldn't really ponder where an alternative spot would be for them either.  Though I think technically people have a right to smoke on their own balconies.  Tenants can argue a neighbour's smoking interferes with their right to "quiet enjoyment" under the Residential Tenancy Act.

Interesting to think about all the legislation banning smoking in public squares/parks/fields & sidewalks within 7m of door/windows downtown.   Interesting that this means vehicles & homes (within a few metres of my window) are a go.  Does this mean I just need to install a sidewalk on my balcony?   

...Does this mean I just need to install a sidewalk on my balcony?   

yes

My opinion: I should NEVER have to breath in second-hand pot smoke.

For those who haven't seen it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IRB0sxw-YU

Edited by pherthyl, 21 May 2015 - 04:53 PM.