There are many reasons why people choose to live in condominiums. The lifestyle of affordability and added security, investments, as well as a refined way of living, are a few things interested condominium buyers are looking to find. 

Besides the perks that sharing an environment provides, being part of a community also means having to take on other neighbours’ burdens. 

The ultimate goal is working together to make the community safe, peaceful, and harmonized. For that to happen, all residents should take notice of the rules and restrictions of the condominium and follow them. When they choose not to, this can be frustrating for condo dwellers.  

Here are some of those common frustrations:  

 

Noise

Depending on the resident, some may prefer a quieter atmosphere even when outside of their homes. This could turn into a nightmare scenario if they have neighbours who play loud music, have weekly parties with family or friends, or even hear someone using the garbage chute at late hours of the night. 

There should be some measure of tolerance allowed, especially during the day. Depending on where you live, there may be bylaws as to what times your neighbours can be “noisy” before you complain. On the other side, residents should also be considerate of their neighbours, especially because they may be living among families, seniors, etc. If you think you’re being a little too loud at night, try to stifle the sounds as much as you can. There should be a balance that allows all residents to leave in a peaceful area. If the concierge warns you, do your best to resolve it.
 

Pets

Some pet owners consider their pets as part of the family, be it a cat, dog, bird, or any other animal. Despite living in a pet-friendly condominium, some people may not have that same feeling. 

Before moving to a condominium with a pet, ensure you read the bylaws and policies that are in place. You may come to see that pets may not be allowed at all, or that only specific pets or certain sized pets may be allowed, and so on. 

 

Once the condominium management has approved your pet, it is now up to you to be a good neighbour. This means picking up after your pet’s feces, keeping it on a leash, reporting any damage they may cause whether it’s indoors or outdoor property, and lastly, having them properly trained. If you are reported as constantly breaking these rules, your pet could quickly become approved to be removed and evicted by the board.

 

Common Areas

Being a condominium owner means you have bought into all of the wonderful amenities in the corporation, sharing them with the other neighbours. Along with the amenities, you’ll be sharing hallways, parkades, roadways, decks, top-deck barbeque areas, and much more. 

These areas are maintained by the board of directors of the condominium corporation, which also means there are rules and policies to be followed to ensure everybody has fair usage of each common area, along with the bylaws already in place.  

Respecting these rules goes without saying, but sometimes, residents try to stretch the rules a bit because they think they won’t be caught. For example, if you are moving old furniture out of your apartment, don’t leave them in a random spot of the condominium where it can block passageways. Old furniture should also not be placed in the recycling or garbage areas. There are designated spots you should be leaving these items so they are properly disposed of. 

It takes consideration to be a good neighbour. While these are the main frustrations a condo dweller may go through, these are easy rules to follow and you should empathize with other residents who want to live as comfortably as you do.  

 

Make your voice heard by becoming a board member yourself! For more information on how to build a great community, contact FirstService Residential, Alberta's property management leader.

Wednesday July 15, 2020