The provincial government is drafting a new condominium act and offering the public a chance to have input into the legislation, Family Services and Consumer Affairs Minister Gord Mackintosh announced. The new act is part of Let’s Make a Better Deal, Manitoba’s five-year plan for stronger consumer protection.
“Condominiums make up a growing piece of the residential real-estate market and all parties need to have the kind of protection that comes from up-to-date legislation,” said Mackintosh. “We’re aiming to produce a new act that will help ensure fairness for people who buy and people who build condominiums, while helping condominium boards manage their developments more effectively.”
The province has been working extensively with a group of unit owners, developers, lawyers and others involved in condominium management and development to find out what is working and what needs to be updated. A discussion paper about condominium issues has been developed and the province is looking for input from the general public on ideas such as:
• extending a purchaser’s cooling-off time to seven days from 48 hours so buyers have more time to read information sellers are required to provide about a condominium,
• ensuring more information about new condominiums under development is disclosed at the time of purchase,
• requiring reserve fund studies and increasing the information prospective buyers receive about the state of repair of existing condominiums, and
• ensuring that reserve funds are adequate to cover the cost of major repairs as they arise.
“We’re encouraged to see that the government is making such an effort to modernize the legislation,” said Doug Forbes, president of the Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Condominium Institute. “Many of the issues being canvassed by government are issues that have been of concern to the condominium industry in Manitoba for some time. We welcome the chance for input and hope condominium owners, developers, managers and others will take the time to respond.”
The province’s discussion paper on condominium issues and proposed changes is available at www.manitoba.ca/fs/condo-act or by phoning 204-945-8224. The discussion paper identifies how feedback can be provided. Responses are being requested by Oct.
