Comments on: What do Condo Fees Cover?

By: Barry Choi

Barry Choi — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 22:07:18 +0000

Hi Zsuzsanna,

I’m in a similar situation as most of my amenities have been off limits since the pandemic started. Unfortunately, it’s highly unlikely that you would get a refund. Any funds that would have went to the maintenance of your sauna, gym, and pool were likely diverted to extra expenses due to COVID. For example, your building may have had to hire more cleaners or put in touchless sensors. The money is never stolen as any excess would go into the reserve fund, which would pay for any upcoming or unexpected expenses.

By: Zsuzsanna Kovacs

Zsuzsanna Kovacs — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 20:31:45 +0000

Hello Barry, in our building we have some amenities, such as sauna, medium size gym and outdoor pool. For some reason the pool was shut down for more than two years, the gym and sauna has been closed since pandemic strike. I feel upset about the fact, that the management does not consider any refund/price arrangement/budget compensation, I’ve been paying the same amount of money for unavailable service! Wasted money, basically I feel like my money got stolen from my pocket! Do I have any possibility claiming back these expenses??

By: Marpy

Marpy — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 15:57:51 +0000

Any way you look at it, Condo fees are grossly overpriced for what you get. You can try to justify them anyway you but realize that you do not get much for what you pay. No comparison to a house and I will give you examples:
– With a condo, you do not get a drive way, you get a parking spot (1/5 the size of a lot of driveways.
– You don’t get a roof to maintain, you get your share of a roof to maintain – perhaps 50 -100 sq. ft. of roof as opposed to 1200 square feet of roof for a house.
– With the lawn to maintain, you get your share of whatever green space the building has which amounts to maybe 25 sq. ft if you are lucky as opposed to 100’s of square feet for a house.
– You also get to pay for a bunch of stuff that many condo owners never use.
So when you look at it in terms of number of units and divide up what has to be maintained per unit, it amounts to a supper huge RIP OFF. But the industry shills will of course always try to paint this in a different color. 😉

By: Barry Choi

Barry Choi — Sat, 26 May 2018 17:10:34 +0000

In reply to Sophie.

Sophie,

That’s definitely possible. My friend in Vancouver also told me that it’s not common for condos to have garbage shoots while in Toronto they’re in every building. This would obviously up costs in Toronto. Maybe there are more differences between the two cities than I realized.

By: Sophie

Sophie — Sat, 26 May 2018 16:48:28 +0000

Maybe the higher fees in Toronto have to do with climate? I’ve visited both cities and have been wading through snow in Toronto while Vancouver suffers a salt shortage with a third of that amount. I think general upkeep will cost more in Toronto since our climate is harsher (with hotter summers and colder winters), causing more wear and tear on buildings over time.

By: Barry Choi

Barry Choi — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 22:31:45 +0000

In reply to Reina Graham. Reina, The maintenance fees are based on how much "space" you own compared to other residents. Your hydro bill is individually metered by unit.

By: Reina Graham

Reina Graham — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 22:28:39 +0000

I am a single female own my Condo..why do I pay the same fees has couples do?

By: Samantha

Samantha — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 19:24:10 +0000

Condo fees always go up, and this process accelerates as the building gets older. Look at old condos at Yonge & Eglinton in Toronto – some of them have over a dollar per square foot fees and this doesn’t include heat and hydro.

By: Barry Choi

Barry Choi — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 00:41:55 +0000

In reply to Anna. Hi Anna, Property taxes are never included in your maintenance fees, however, they are sometimes included in your mortgage payments (depends on your lender). As for utilities that are in condo fees, they're basically all-inclusive so it doesn't matter how much you use. Now if everyone in your buildings starts wasting water / electricity, then expect your fees to go up.

By: Anna

Anna — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 22:54:07 +0000

hello Barry: you mention condo fees per sq ft – are utility costs also based on consumption per unit if included in condo fees – also I have heard that some condo include property taxes in condo fees

your comments will be appreciated – Anna in Winnipeg