OTT GENERAL 42 CONDO AND BYLAW QUESTIONS
From: "leza" (lezawang_new@no-spam)
Subject: condo, and bylaw questions
Date: Wed, 09 Jul 2003 03:08:06 GMT


What does condo mean? why builders build condo? I am talking about townhouses not high raise building.

Another question please what does "Bylaw" mean? and why it is named "bylaw"?




















From: Bruce Hollebone (bonehead@no-spam)
Subject: Re: condo, and bylaw questions
Date: 9 Jul 2003 12:53:19 GMT

On 08 Jul 2003, leza wrote:

> What does condo mean? why builders build condo? I am > talking about townhouses not high raise building.

It is short for condominium, as opposed to "free-hold".

In a condominium, you typically have soverinty on the inside of your home, but not the outside or surrounding property. The outside, the exterior walls, the lawns, the roof, are managed by an owners association, which you are required to pay into every month, typically a few hundred dollars. The owners association uses this money to do maintenance (roof, windows, etc...) and keep up the poperty (lawn & gardening). The OA is a cooperative instrument---all the property owners are members and elect its board from among themselves. When you share significant property with your neighbours, as in an appartment building or a row house, the condo structure is a way of preventing neighbourhood disputes.

A free-hold is exactly as the name implies, you have full control and ownership of your property. Most fully-detached homes are free-holds.
> Another question please what does "Bylaw" mean? and why it > is named "bylaw"?
A bylaw is a law passed by a municipality or township, as opposed to a law passed by the province or Canada. It has the full force of law within the municipal boundary. Typically they are enforced by non-police "bylaw officers" (traffic wardens and the like), but the police will enforce them also, as necessary. Parking laws, dog licences, noise controls are all examples of bylaws.

-- Kind Regards,
Bruce.


Subject: Re: condo, and bylaw questions
From: "Dave Null Sr." (lrowoy@no-spam)
Date: 9 Jul 2003 14:18:09 -0400

On Wed, 09 Jul 2003 12:53:19 GMT, Bruce Hollebone <bonehead@no-spam> wrote in news:Xns93B359C8553B0boneheadontheboardwa@no-spam
> A free-hold is exactly as the name implies, you have full > control and ownership of your property. Most fully-detached > homes are free-holds.

That isn't strictly true. Freehold row-houses may have an agreement restricting appearance and other issues.
Enforcement however is a PITA as the only remedy is civil court. Been down that road.