Board Must Deal With Hot And Cold Issue

Written by Shlomo Sharon | 17 November 2001

The Toronto Star − Condo Living Section
Condo Living sent the following question to Shlomo Sharon, President, Taft Forward Property Management Group

Question

I live in a condo in which the air conditioning and heat is provided through one central system.

I cannot get the building to turn on the air conditioning in the spring, as they say they have to provide heat by law to a certain point in the year. The building faces north and south and, unfortunately, I'm on the south side so I end up sweltering each spring.

Is there anything I can do about this? I like the location of the building but I really find the way it is run to be very poor. My experience here has been pretty dismal.

I really am not sure why I own as I feel I would have more input if I rented.

I'm just not sure what rights, if any, I have or how to find about those rights.

Although I've written the property manager and the board of directors, I've had poor feedback from the property manager and none from the board.

Answer

I sympathize with your predicament. However, when you live in a condominium with a central HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system, you are not in control of the heating and cooling in your unit.

Your board of directors in consultation with property management, will determine what the temperature should be and at what point in the season the heating or air-conditioning should be turned on.

This may be based on the municipal standards set for rental accommodation.

The board of directors has the responsibility to balance the needs of the condominium as a whole and the needs of individual owners.

I always maintain that living in a condominium can be satisfying if everyone can communicate with each other and be considerate.

You should however, express your concerns in writing to the board and management. If the board receives many complains from the residents, they may consider changes.

You may also want to meet with the board and management directly, perhaps at the next board meeting.

This may give you an opportunity to explain the situation.

If you are still unsatisfied with their reply, you are permitted to requisition an owners meeting to discuss this issue, as long as you meet the requirements of the Condominium Act to do so.

This may give other owners an opportunity to express their concerns.

In the interim, a practical solution would be to start closing your blinds or window coverings to reduce the direct light coming in.