Edmonton condominium residents have a chance to have their voices be heard regarding condo issues that can aid the government when making changes to the Condominium Property Act.

Through the use of a form, residents are being asked to share information that will be used to determine the merit of the policy proposals being considered by Service Alberta.

Shared information includes questions pertaining to condo owners feeling about how fairly condo developers deal with buyers when selling units. For instance, residents are asked if developers disclose all information to potential buyers to ensure protection of purchasers and if they met in a timely matter with developers to discuss units.

The survey indicates that for the most part, developers follow the rules of The Act, but there are some developers that are unsure of these rules, or do not comply. By asking questions through the condo survey, the government is interested in being proactive in learning whether or not developer rules are effective and if they could be made clearer.

Furthermore, the survey asks condo buyers if developers should be made to prepare proposed operating budgets to be provided to buyers. Essentially, the government wants to know if sharing the corporations proposed yearly budget with buyers is necessary or important to potential buyers.

Other aspects of the survey include: the buyer’s right to cancel the purchase if all documents haven’t been presented to the buyer from the developer; are the buyer’s deposits adequately protected by The Act currently, or does it need fine tuning; how soon the developer’s plans should be submitted to the condominium corporation; concerns about visitor and handicapped parking; how to properly handle the recall of a board member when residents are dissatisfied with the board member’s performance; whether or not the board hold extraordinary meetings if condo members ask for them; if mortgagee’s should be allowed to vote if they have unpaid contributions or court orders or judgments at the behest of the corporation.

The survey is quite detailed and covers almost every aspect of condo ownership. The government said its interest in obtaining this information is solely for the purpose of maintaining and updating the Condominium Property Act review. It should be noted that The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, s. 33 (c) governs Service Alberta’s collection of this information.

For more information or for direct questions about the collection and use of this information, mail to Consumer Programs, Service Alberta, 3rd Floor, Commerce Place, 10155 – 102 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, T5J 4L4 or phone (780) 427-5210.

Post by Alexis Hlady