SPRING 2013

Fix leaks save money

D
Lets Talk Condos!

id you know that one in four toilets silently leaks, wasting up to 28 bathtubs of water every month? Or that a faucet leak can waste 10 to 100 litres of water a day?

he Alberta government has created a consultation paper to help them develop recommendations for possible legislative changes to the Condominium Property Act (CPA). They ask Albertans to complete an online survey to share their opinions on a variety of condominium-related topics, that include: consumer protection for buyers, insurance requirements, access to corporation records, dispute resolution, board governance, and regulatory standards for condominium managers. This is a unique opportunity to have your voice heard. The online questionnaire is available until April 2 at letstalkcondos.servicealberta.ca. Paper copies of the questionnaire can be requested by Calling 1-877-427-4088 toll-free in Alberta.

The City of Calgary estimates that your water bill could be reduced by up to 12% just by doing a simple fix to stop toilet leaks. They run an annual indoor water conservation campaign to educate homeowners about these leaks and how to fix them. This year Condominium First joined forces with the City to get the information to condominium residents that live in condominium buildings we manage. The City provided valuable education about indoor water consumption and water waste, toilet leak detection tools, and instructions on how to easily fix the common leak culprit. All toilets, in any type of dwelling contribute to the waste water problem, but in an apartment condominium with a shared water meter, the fix can have a significant, positive impact on the annual budget. Water, and the associated sewer

cost, is charged on the monthly utility invoice. Water and sewage is typically the largest budget line item after electricity and natural gas on an apartment complexs annual budget. For example, a 300 unit complex in Calgary has budgeted $100,000.00 for 2012-2013. If they could successfully stop the leaks in 25% of the toilets, they could potentially save $12,000.00!

I N T H E N E W S

Did you know that one in four toilets silently leaks, wasting up to 28 bathtubs of water every month?
The Citys goal in its annual Fix-ALeak campaign is water sustainability for the future. They want to accommodate Calgarys expected population and business growth, but use the same amount of water that was removed from the river in 2003. We can all contribute to this goal with leak repair, and well save money at the same time. For more information about the FixA-Leak campaign, or to learn other tips and tricks to help you find and fix household leaks, visit Calgary.ca or contact 311.

Edmonton Office Expansion

ondominium First is pleased to announce that we have acquired Edmonton-based Christenson Property Management. The acquisition expands our presence in Edmonton and increases the size of These new staff members will conour property management business in tinue to provide management services Alberta. to the Christenson properties to ensure a smooth transition for their cliFive former Christianson employees ents. will join us at our new Edmonton office in the Greystone Business Park, located at 4220-97 Street. They are Sheila MacAulay, senior community manager; Anne-Marie Robidoux, senior community manager; Nicola Temple, community manager; June Straty, senior admin assistant; and Lise Tetreault, admin assistant. We are excited to welcome the Christenson employees to our family, said Roger Davies, President of Condominium First. He added, the addition of these colleagues and properties is important as we continue to provide management services to the Edmonton area.

CONTACT US:
Customer Care: 1-855-266-3601 Calgary: (403) 299-1810 Canmore/Banff: (403) 678-9933 Edmonton: (780) 638-0988 Fort McMurray: (780) 714-5838
After Hours Emergency: 1-855-266-3602

www.condominiumfirst.com

What you need to know if you plan to rent your condominium

f you plan to rent your condominium unit, you need to know that both owner and tenant have responsibilities under the Condominium Property Act of Alberta (CPA) in rental situations. These are in addition to rights and responsibilities for landlords and tenants covered in the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA).

caused by the owner, a visitor to the unit, or a tenant. A condominium is governed by its bylaws, board policies and the CPA. Owners, visitors and tenants must abide by the bylaws, or the owner may face sanctions. Unit owner responsibilities The owner is responsible for the actions of his or her tenant. The CPA requires the owner to give written notice to the condominium corporation that the unit will be rented. Many corporations have a document called a tenant undertaking that collects the required information. The condominium corporation may request a deposit of not more than one months rent when a unit is rented. The deposit is to cover repair to, or replacement of, any common property that the tenant damages. The owner may not ask the tenant to pay this deposit. The owner must agree that the tenant will not damage the corporations property and will abide by the bylaws of the corporation. Tenant responsibilities The tenant must also agree to not damage the corporations property and to abide by the bylaws.

If the tenant causes damage to the common property, or does not follow the bylaws, the corporation has the authority to evict the tenant. The tenant can be evicted with as little as one month notice, even if the landlord does not want to terminate the lease. In extreme cases, the corporation can apply to the court for an order to give up possession. In this case the court decides when the tenant must leave. Eviction under the CPA supersedes the rental agreement between the landlord and tenant, and the RTA.

When you own a condo you also share ownership of the common property with all the other owners. Examples of common property are hallways, stairwells, sidewalks, and roads. Balconies, patios or yards are often common property too, but they are usually for the exclusive use of the occupants of the units that are attached to them. The board of directors, elected annually by the owners at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), have a responsibility to maintain the common property. Owners are responsible for any damage to the common property whether is

The owner is responsible for the actions of his or her tenant

If the tenant refuses to leave, the corporation can apply to the Court of Queens Bench for an order to vacate. All repair, legal and court expenses will be charged to the unit owners account. If you plan to rent your condominium, please contact the Customer Care Centre (CCC), your community manager or your community assistant to find out what you must do to be compliant. There may also be move-in or move-out policies of which you need to be aware.

CONDOMINIUM SALES AND LEASING

CERTIFIED CONDOMINIUM SPECIALISTS (CCS)

Condominium First wins 8th Consumer Choice Award

For the eighth year in a row, Condominium First has received the Consumer Choice Award for Business Excellence in the Residential Property Management Category. This award is valuable to us as it represents the trust and loyalty we have earned from the customers with whom we have had the pleasure of doing business. Thank you for your support!

Condominium Sales: Condominium Leasing: Call for FREE CMA Full service management (Comparative Market Analysis) Tenant screening Rent collection Our CCS associates will Monthly financial statement provide the information you 24 hour emergency service need to make a sound In/out & mid-term inspections business decision. (403) 299-1800 | www.equitycapital.ab.ca
A FirstService Residential Management Company
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to solicit properties currently listed for sale or lease, or to individuals currently under a buyer brokerage agreement. We are pleased to work with our fellow industry members.

Condominium First Management Services Ltd.