Resale condos—consumer protection

Buying a used condo is like buying a used car. Buyer beware.

Yet unlike buying a new condo, there is no outcry against owners hiding problems from potential buyers, little consumer protection for the buyers and no pending legislation to protect buyers from devious condo sellers.

So what kind of defects are used-condo sellers likely to hide?

Here are just a few:
1.
Water leaks and mould.
2.
Dogs bark day and night and there are dog urine/droppings in hallways, staircases and elevators.
3.
Vermin. Could be cockroaches, bedbugs, mice or all three.
4.
Building mechanical defects. The hot water risers, chillers or boilers may be shot. There may be water outages.
5.
Poor security resulting in break-ins and vandalism in the garage and dope dealing in the staircases.
6.
A rude or obnoxious property manager and an indifferent board.
7.
Major repairs are required which will result in huge special assessments or the condo requiring loans. The board and the owners are in denial.
8.
Not enough parking spots so residents use all the available visitor parking spots. Violations of the rules are not enforced.
9.
The unit's wonderful view is going to be blocked by a new condo tower that is going to be built right next door or across the street.
10.
That $1 million Reserve Fund is underfunded and is actually just a loan that you will be helping to pay off.
11.
There are noise, fumes and odour penetration problems from the unit next to you. You will hear your neighbour talking on the phone, listen to their music, and hear the men urinating in their toilet. Strong cooking odours in early evenings.
12.
Over-crowded units and a high percentage of renters.
13.
You are going to hear a lot of false fire alarms in the very early hours.
14.
There was a meth lab in the unit above the one you are buying.
15.
The elevator with the "Temporary Out of Service" sign? It has been out of service for the last seven months.
16.
The condo corporation runs annual deficits and it is worse than broke.
17.
Noisy, obnoxious or mentally challenged neighbours.
18.
Your new condo allows transient renters. The unit next to yours is actually a furnished hotel suite.


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