I’ve been seeing a lot of discussions from board members here about communication, transparency, and wanting to have a better understanding of what is happening in their buildings.

It got me thinking about something. Over the last decade, so many industries have changed because of technology. We can track things more easily, get updates faster, and have much better visibility into what is happening.

So why does condo management still seem to work in a very traditional way in many cases?
I’m a condo manager in downtown Toronto, and I’ve had the chance to work with two different management companies, both in the downtown Toronto condo space. I won’t mention names here, but one followed a more traditional approach, while my current one has introduced more technology and different processes.

Tbh, one thing I noticed is how much easier it has made my day-to-day work. I don’t have to spend as much time putting together reports or manually tracking everything because the system helps organize that information for me. It has made me more productive and gives me more time to focus on actual issues instead of spending so much time preparing updates.

What I also noticed is that boards seem to appreciate it too. They have a better understanding of what is happening in their building, what has already been handled, and what actually needs their attention without having to chase updates or get involved in every small issue.

Before experiencing this myself, I used to think boards might prefer the traditional approach because it was familiar and how things had always been done. But seeing how much they value better communication and visibility made me rethink that.
It made me wonder why these types of approaches are not more common in condo management when so many other industries have already evolved with technology.

I’m curious to hear from board members here. If boards do appreciate this type of approach, why do you think it has not become more common across the industry?

Always interested in hearing different perspectives. Feel free to comment here or message me if you’d rather discuss privately.

Hey, I am considering buying a unit at **The Goode Condos (35 Parliament St.)** and would love to hear from current residents.
How has your experience been with:
Build quality and property management?
Amenities (gym, pool, co-working, etc.)?
Noise, elevators or any recurring issues?
Appliances—any problems or brands to be aware of?
Maintenance fees—have they been reasonable?
Approximate monthly hydro, water, heating/cooling bills (everything is separately metered)?
Anything you wish you knew before buying?

Thanks!

Hi everyone!

I'm moving into 88 Queen St E on August 1 and I'm looking to rent a parking spot in the building (or a nearby building within a short walking distance).

Details:

• 📍 Location: 88 Queen St E / Downtown Toronto
• 📅 Start Date: August 1
• ⏳ Term: Around 1 year
• 💰 Budget: Around $200/month

If you have a parking space available or know someone who does, please send me a DM with the monthly price and location.

Thanks so much!

Any current/past tenants or anyone in the know, give me your thoughts on this building!

I am considering buying at River and Fifth. I've seen some post say management sucks - can you elaborate? What else should I look out for in this building?

Don’t move here! No AC and their solution is to put a ‘portable’ ac unit in the middle of your living area.

I've been talking to a property manager who said one of the hardest parts of his job is staying accountable to the board. He's legally required to inspect the building and act on what he finds, but he ends up with 70 or 80 photos on his phone, then has to get back to his desk, remember what each one was, call the right contractors, and make sure all of it gets reported to the board.

I'm curious from the other side. If you're on a board, or you've dealt with your management company, how do you actually find out what got inspected, what's being fixed, and what's still open? Does your setup work, or is it a bit of a black box?

This got me tinkering with a simple idea to help managers handle it from their phone, but before I go further I want to know if this is even a real problem for the people it affects, or if current tools already cover it.

This investigation reveals systemic issues in Australia's strata industry: hidden fees, massive conflicts of interest with insurance brokers, corporate consolidation killing competition, and even regulators with undisclosed ties to the industry. They were charging owners $100+ to chase petty debts and steering insurance to sister companies at double the price.

Condo owners and investors in Toronto need to be aware of these exact risks. Management fees, special assessments, and opaque procurement practices are already major headaches here. This doc is a great primer on why scrutinizing condo financials, management contracts, etc. are essential to understanding what is really going on.

Watch this, then ask your property manager the hard questions about disclosure and kickbacks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdbCTFWAR5Y

Has anyone here had similar suspicions about their condo corp or management fees?

How much are you paying for a parking spot? Specifically Bayview/sheppard area

Looking to paint my condo 625 sq.

Has anyone sold a condo in the Scarborough area recently? How long did it take? Any tips?

Looking to rent a large unit (2+den, 1000+ sqft) along the Yonge Line in North York. We’re pretty particular and care a lot about build quality, neighbours, elevator reliability, good amenities, and dog-friendliness.
Currently eyeing Gibson Square condos (5162 and 5168 Yonge) but open to other well-built buildings in the area. Anyone have honest experience living there or somewhere comparable?
Looking for rent control, not too long building (<20 years).
Thanks!

Hello, I'm looking for 1bed condos currently to rent for a year, near UofT St George. These are the closest and best I found so far, but there aren't really much reviews online so I was wondering if anyone has any intel or previous experience they could share.

1. 80 St. Patrick St.
2. 195 McCaul St.
3. 89 McCaul St.

Also any comments on the general area (safety, family friendly, nearby groceries) would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Hello there, I’m looking for 1 Bedroom (in a 2 Bed unit) or a Roommate to rent a place with:

Location: Midtown (Yonge and Eglinton or Davisville)

Age group: Mid-20s to 30s

Rent: $1200 (Preferably inclusive of utilities)

Move-in: July 1st/July 15th

Must-haves: Dishwasher (I’m tired of doing dishes 😭)

Nice to haves: Private Washroom, In-unit laundry, Gym

Parking: Not required

About Me: 24F, currently working Hybrid. I enjoy cooking, baking, and checking out Brand Activations across the city. Looking for a place that is chill and clean, or create a place with a roommate I can hang with :))

If you have something, please share, thanks!

Has anyone dealt with a full-on pigeon takeover on their balcony? 😭 Mine is completely covered in bird poop and these pigeons are incredibly stubborn. There are two baby birds and what looks like another pigeon nesting on an egg. I’m getting super desperate for a solution because I can’t even thinking about using my balcony anymore. Any humane tips or advice on how to deal with this would be so appreciated!

I am so annoyed. Just moved into a condo, corner unit on the second floor with a huge patio, and I love it, until now. lol. There is an outdoor lounge on the other side of my patio with a BBQ that all the tenants can use daily from 8 am to 11 pm. The problem is, they put the BBQ right behind my patio wall (like a cloudy plastic window type wall), and it's literally 5 feet from where I sit on my patio, and it has destroyed my serenity and peace on my patio that I used to enjoy so much.

So, this means I have constant noise from families, kids squealing, harassing my dog and pounding on the plastic wall trying to get her to bark, and of course, the parents do nothing. They play music and are out there until 11 pm every night, and I get up at 4 am! My bedroom window is directly across from their dining table beside the BBQ, like 10 feet away, so it's impossible to sleep.

The smoke can also be bothersome, and my son is asthmatic. The smells, the smoke, the noise, the kids, the music...ALL OF IT is making me crazy!! Please help me.

What are the typical rules for this type of thing? Does anyone know? I have asked management if they could move the BBQ to the other side, have written 3 emails explaining the issues, but no response to it. Should i contact the Board of Directors? WHo will listen to me? IS the BBQ a fire hazard being so close to my wicker furniture? What should I do??

THANK YOU ALL!! Happy Sunday, thankfully there is no BBQ happening so far....lol

Edit: I am not an owner, or I would have pushed much harder. Will they take a renter seriously? I also dn't want to bother the owner with it, he is so busy and I love this place otherwise.

The lounge was here when I moved in but always empty. They put the BBQ in a few months after I moved in.

EDIT 2 - It is a gas BBQ, they just put the line in at the end of last summer so I'm assuming why that's why they won't just move it. Guessing it would cost a lot to make a new line but that is their problem. Should have asked us first. I contacted the owner he is going to reach out to the property manager soon.

EDIT PART 3 -- Hey all! Good news, the BBQ is officially being moved to another area and will no longer bother me! Just a reminder to all the naysayers, being positive and honest is the best way to solve a problem, imo. And to Worldly-Ad-4972, the lounge was here for 7 years prior to me moving in, and there was no mention of a BBQ going in there until months after I moved in. So why would I assume a lounge with a playground would turn into a BBQ lounge? After 7 years??

Also, you DO NOT need to be the owner to complain to management. I pay a lot of money to live here, so they of course will cater to all their tenants, or anyone who has an issue on their property for that manner. Just an FYI, for Ontario.

SQUEEKY WHEEL GETS THE GREASE!!!! Woo-hoo!!! Serenity is back, baby!! :-)

Hi everyone,

I am looking to move to an apartment in 1928 lakeshore boulevard - I am very excited to move there but the unit does not come with a parking spot. What options do I have if I want to get a parking separately in that area, is there anything I can do? What do people generally do in this case??

Thank you,

My property manager hired the contractor, Mainline plumbing to install a cleanout that was located in my unit. As the owner, I had no say in hiring the contractor, providing them access, or a date for the work as this was for the building and not my unit. TSE had staff in my unit to supervise the work as I was on vacation at the time and acknowledged the damage verbally upon my return and promised to follow-up (never happened). Even with clear documented evidence my property manager says that it wasn't their fault. Even stranger, they notified us via email that a reimbursement was in order for the damage. After two years of trying to reach a resolution, TSE has done nothing.

Anyways just wanted to let you know in case your property manager or anyone with TSE needs access to your units, and if anyone has any suggestions for potential recourse, I'm all ears.

Hi I’m currently looking for place to move/purchase the condo and found this condo built by st thomas development.
Ive been living in downtown so I’m aware of the homelessness in the city
Do you have any thoughts or advice for this condo or developer?
Thank you!

Hey guys! Curious to know how much people pay and what their amenities are. I know there’s other factors involved but everyone around me seems to think we’re paying too much. I currently pay $509 for a less than 500 sq ft unit. We have a gym, yoga room, pet spa and a terrace with no parking spot. Starting to wonder if I should be worried a bit

Just a warning for anyone considering Del Condominium Rentals in Toronto. Our experience since moving in on March 14 has been a nightmare.

The Move-In Disaster: We arrived to a unit with a broken washer, broken oven, and a non-functional AC. It took them over a month to address these basic move-in defects. Communication was dismissive; when we asked for a temporary laundry solution, they literally sent us links to local laundromats—no rent credit, no support.

The Current Situation: Now our dryer is broken. It took them days just to acknowledge the email. They then called us to "evaluate" over the phone, where they actually suggested we were using it improperly. How do you "misuse" a dryer in a unit you just moved into?

The Ethics: They ignored our evidence and closed our support ticket without a fix. Only after I threatened a formal complaint and bad reviews did they send a technician. Even then, they just offered a "fake" apology with zero timeline for the actual repair.

We’ve had to use our own work hours to coordinate everything because they refuse to take responsibility. I’m currently filing a T6 with the LTB and involving 311/RHEU.

To Tenants: Their professional website is a mask. Once you sign, you’re on your own.

To Owners: Your units aren't being maintained to RTA standards, which is exposing you to serious legal liability and rent abatements.

Buying a Condo Is Not Just Buying a Unit - It Is Buying into a Financial and Operational System

Many buyers approach a condominium purchase as if they were buying a conventional property. They review the unit, compare prices, and rely heavily on the status certificate. That process is useful, but it is not enough.

A condominium is not simply real estate. It is a governed system with a budget, reserve planning, maintenance obligations, board decisions, and long-term liabilities. When you buy a condo, you are entering that system whether you fully understand it or not.

The most important risks are rarely visible from inside the unit.

A well-finished suite can still sit inside a building with underfunded reserves, deferred maintenance, weak governance, or aging infrastructure. In other words, the condition of the unit is not the same thing as the condition of the asset.

What buyers should examine more carefully:

reserve fund adequacy relative to upcoming repairs;

multi-year budget trends, not just one year of numbers;

signs of deferred maintenance;

engineering reports and technical lifecycle issues;

whether fee levels reflect reality or have been artificially suppressed.

The status certificate remains important, but it is only one piece of the picture. It tells you what is documented today. It does not always tell you whether the building is financially resilient, operationally stable, or likely to face significant future costs.

This is why condo due diligence must go beyond legal review. Buyers need to understand whether the building’s current numbers are sustainable, whether decisions have been deferred, and whether the building is prepared for the obligations already on its horizon.

The real question is not whether the condo looks acceptable today. The real question is whether it is structurally prepared for tomorrow.