Residents of Mississauga Condo Living in Fear of Legal Letters from Board

Residents of Mississauga Condo Living in Fear of Legal Letters from Board

Residents of 135 Hillcrest Ave., a condominium in Mississauga, Ontario, have raised serious concerns about the conduct of their condo board, claiming they are being harassed and intimidated through frequent legal warnings.

Richelle Komes, who bought her two-bedroom condo in 2022, received her first warning in February 2023 after allowing her cousin to stay overnight and park in her underground spot. The condo’s on-site manager accused her visitor of being intoxicated, a claim Komes denies. Since then, she has received multiple legal notices for various alleged violations, which she argues are unfounded.

More than a dozen owners at 135 Hillcrest Ave. share similar stories, feeling targeted by the condo corporation’s aggressive use of legal letters. These letters, which CBC has reviewed, include accusations ranging from harassment and rule violations to spreading gossip and making derogatory comments. In each case, the board has demanded that owners pay for the legal costs of these letters.

Linda Pinizzotto, founder and CEO of the Condo Owners Association of Ontario, describes the situation as “extreme” and calls for the board to act more reasonably, emphasizing that constant legal threats create more adversity.

Audrey Loeb, a condominium law expert, acknowledges that disputes between owners and boards are common but suggests that persistent issues may require professional mediation or legal advice.

Steve Moran, another owner who won a $50,000 lawsuit against the corporation in 2022, urges the board to treat the building as a home, not a correctional facility. Efforts to communicate with management have largely been ignored, and attempts at mediation have been unsuccessful.

The Ontario Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery is considering expanding the jurisdiction of the Condominium Authority Tribunal to provide more affordable dispute resolution options.

Residents continue to seek ways to address their concerns and restore a sense of community in their building, but many feel trapped and monitored, struggling to organize against what they perceive as an overbearing condo board.