Many owners believe one sentence, and it creates the biggest financial surprises in condominiums. “The condo corporation has insurance, so I am covered.” No. The building insurance is for the corporation. It is designed to restore the building and the standard unit. Your unit owner policy is for you. It protects your belongings, your upgrades, and your personal liability. If you own a condo and you do not have your own insurance, you are choosing to pay out of pocket when something goes...

In many modern condos, the loudest neighbour is not the person upstairs, it is the building itself. Slabs, ducts and pipes click, pop and bang as they warm and cool, and their echoes travel through concrete so convincingly that they sound like footsteps or furniture. Real neighbour disturbance is usually something else, music, parties or long renovation work, not a single thump in the night.

Cold water is delivered to the buildings by the City of Toronto. If you notice issues with the taste, smell, or colour of cold water...