Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca March 26, 2005 Who owns air above our homes? Reader requests local no-fly zone Property rights are lower than ever Noisy neighbours and noisy neighbourhoods continue to be a matter of considerable concern to Toronto-area homeowners. One Star reader recently emailed me with an unusual type of noise grievance. Instead of complaining […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca March 19, 2005 Tracking down a home’s history One question real estate lawyers are often asked: "How old is my house?" Homebuyers want to know the age of their house for one of two reasons. Either they are genuinely curious about the building’s history, or their insurance company wants the information to […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca March 12, 2005 Electricity liability can be shocking Judge rules in favour of homeowners in tenant arrears case These stories strange but true Is it possible for a homebuyer to get stuck with the unpaid electricity bill of the former owner or tenant? That was the question, which had to be decided […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca March 5, 2005 Zany, bogus scams don’t fool insurers Fraud coalition releases 2004 list These stories strange but true If you ask the average law-abiding Canadian the total value of the contents of his or her home, you will probably get a fairly good attempt at an honest answer. But if you […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca February 26, 2005 Disclosing defects to buyers a problem area Asbestos, former pot-growing houses a concern An aware agent must legally make full disclosure I recently received two emails from readers on the subject of disclosing home defects to potential buyers, and purchasing homes with problems or stigmas. One reader is a […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca February 19, 2005 Co-ownership deals offer special set of challenges Scattered across the Toronto area are dozens, if not hundreds, of multi-unit residential complexes that have been organized as co-ownerships. Unlike condominiums and co-operatives, which are the more accepted forms of shared living in larger buildings, co-ownerships are not well understood by […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca February 12, 2005 Disputed land sliver cost couple $42,000 The most expensive piece of residential land in Toronto is not the nine-acre parcel owned by Conrad Black on Park Lane Circle, said to be worth more than $10 million, or a paltry $26 a square foot (for the land only). Realtors familiar […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca February 5, 2005 Illegal basement flat proves costly mistake Is a homebuyer entitled to know in advance whether a basement apartment is legal or not? Does a real estate agent have an obligation to disclose to potential purchasers if a second suite in a single-family home complies fully with zoning bylaws, building […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca January 29, 2005 Basement suites must meet requirements There are health, fire and building code standards Thousands fail to comply with regulations The recent death of a single mother in a Toronto basement apartment fire is a reminder tragic fires can and do occur in every type of dwelling unit. For landlords […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca January 22 2005 Dream house nightmare Imagine living in a house, which shifts slightly under a heavy snow load or in a high wind, because of an unstable centre-bearing wall. Whenever it rains, water enters the building through a breach in the building envelope. The flooding in the basement creates a proliferation […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca January 15 2005 Broker may find a better mortgage deal One of my clients learned that the best way to finance a residential purchase is not necessarily with one of the big banks. Irene had signed an agreement to purchase her dream downtown Toronto condominium unit. The original buyers had defaulted on […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca January 8 2005 Desperately seeking peace and quiet Noisy neighbours arouse complaints Poor insulation destroys privacy Judging by the number of emails I’ve received in the past three weeks, I seem to have touched a nerve when I wrote about a client’s "frisky neighbours" on December 18, 2004 ( https://www.aaron.ca/columns/2004-12-18.htm ). Apparently, […]
Bob Aaron bob@aaron.ca January 1 2005 A few ideas for the Minister Consumers need more protection Force builders to live up to promises At a recent press conference in Toronto, Ontario Consumer Minister Jim Watson revealed that he is a regular reader of this column. In case he is looking for some items to place […]