Discussions

Just wondering what people are paying for their fees and what is included with them?  
We are paying what seems to us to be ridiculously high fees for what we get, we're paying $250.00 a month for a small two bedroom condo (647 sq ft) it has it's own insuit laundry and we pay for hydro & gas but not water. Looking on ebrandon this seems high for what we get water & 1parking spot. Maybe it's not just curious as to what other condos charge and what you get included with the fee.  
 
Edited by SDJ, 2016-03-20 05:39:25

is why last year i decided not to buy a condo but a house instead. You pay condo almost same as a house plus your fees and you are not allowed to do anything you want at the house without permission.

What all do you get for that each month? You said it covers water, but does it also cover taxes, insurance, snow removal, grass cutting, repairs?

It covers snow removal insurance repairs and ssuch didn't think I had to state that but have seen other ads where electricity is included. But then I forgot this is good old eBrandon where nobody can answer the first original question. Or you only get people that don't have any knowledge of what was asked. Was really just wondering what other people are paying for the condo fees and not why people bought a house

That includes snow removal and lawn mowing, water, activity center and small gym, and pool. Our kids live in it going to school, so it is much better deal than a home in our situation as I have enough acres of grass to mow on our farms, would not want upkeep in city as well. They also do outside repairs like to shingles etc....that kind of maintenance. Love having condo!!

That is why we bought the condo too we have children going to school and even with what seems to be a high condo fee it is still far cheaper with the low mortgage rate then renting a place in Brandon. When we originally bought two years ago the condo fee was 170 has gone up $40 a year each year since starting to get worried that will have a hard time reselling once the kids are out of University if the condo fees keep Rising.  
 
Edited by SDJ, 2016-03-20 09:00:39

I pay same amount including hydro. Your condo fee usually covers maintenance and as Lovemygirl said, should cover building insurance( not your own suit), grass cutting, snow removal and etc. Also part of that.goes to reserve fund that cover large ticket items such as changing shingles or so on. I think what you pay it is not rediculus if your reserve fund is healthy, if not much money left in reserve fund then I will be concern. Also note that you can always ask condo board or manager to let you know where the condo fee have been spent on various things and how much is the reserve fund.  
By the way, do you have condo apartment or individual house like condo? The second one has higher condo fees, I guess. So if you have house type condo, $250 should be good!  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Edited by Deb1, 2016-03-20 09:31:45

I have a friend living in Winnipeg who just bought an apartment style condo for $200k (it needed work). Condo is about 40 years old. He pays $495 condo fees $200 in taxes and pays his own heat (electric). Nice thing is he has heated underground parking with a car wash. Also another friend here bought a condo a couple of years ago with fees at $144, then jumped to $200 3 years later, his taxes $4800. Condo fees will continually rise.  
 
I will just hire someone to mow my grass and shovel snow while being able to not have to ask permission to do things on my property.

$100 a month and I think its too low.  
If one day we have to repair shingles we wont have enough in the pot to pay. Or if a major issue arises.  
 
But we got in late to our condo and the people before us lowered it thinking they were saving money.  
Then they voted to pay their president and secretary each month. So that also comes from the fees. Snow removal and lawn care are covered and I believe water and insurance too. But you get what you pay for not a lot.  

it is a about a 78 unit complex, and the reserve fund is at a pretty good level to cover any major repairs. We are more concerned I guess at the rate they keep rising, to us forty dollars a year seems quit high and hopefully isn't going to be an annual event.

Curious....I have had friends that have been in condos (not in Brandon) and they have had to pay in tune of 15 grand extra in one time shot to have major repairs done to the building....such as new shingles. This made them all move into a house as the fees outweighed future living there. Has there been anything like that here? What sort of work would they have to do to add a bill like this?

You can ask your condo manager if they have had such an increase for past few years, or if they have plan to do that next year ( they might not know for years after that).  
If their answer is satisfactory and you have good money on reserve fund, you should not be worry for now.  
I have a condo and a house. We bought our condo also for my son to go to school and it was the best decision instead of renting a place or staying at university dormitory. He also does not have time or knowledge to to the maintenance on building. Also living in condo is very safe and peace of mind for us.  
I love my house too but keeping up with house is not cheap also, as one broken hot water tank cost few months of condo fee unless you can do all the work yourself then cost you the tank only.  
So people should consider their own unique situation, and I am sure many people love living in condo.  
100 is pretty low, unless it does not cover any utilities or there is not much maintenance regarding grass or so on or building is new so no major repair will happen until many years. Otherwise they have to pay for the larger items as special levy instead of condo fee going to reserve fund.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Edited by Deb1, 2016-03-20 10:34:37

we had a friend in Winnipeg which condo development had to redo the entire parking lot mind you it was a large complex with a large lot that needed to be done and the fee was in the 12 to 15 thousand per unit for this. That was bad enough but then two years latter the condo board voted in favour of redoing all the exterior balconies which was going to be another 7500 per unit so they ended up selling because they couldn't afford all the extra cost that the other owners kept voting in.

Condo fees cover the following costs:  
 
- Management fees (managing budget, arranging maintenance, checking on area, managing parking issues, any direct communication with those not following condo rules)  
- Exterior maintenance (Lawn cutting, weed & feed, snow removal, flower bed cleanup, sprinkler maintenance)  
- Water Bills  
- Insurance for base unit (excludes upgrades inside unit and contents)  
- Use of pool house, common room, and gym  
- Costs associated with Auditing books (the NDP instituted an Annual Accountant audit of all condo board books... which will work out to $4000 to $5000 per year cost)  
- Money going into the reserve fund, as condo boards cannot borrow money to complete repairs. If there isn't enough money to complete repairs, all owners will be asked to pay money for these repairs.  
 

I think you need a new plumber if you are paying 2500 to have a water heater installed every six years even the most expensive ones I could find on-line aren't 1500 very good quality heaters are about half that at 500 to 700 hundred you can even high quality tank less heaters for 500 to 700 hundred now days.

Yep, while this is getting off topic I think she really got fleased. I usually replace every 8 years my last tank installed was $650. got an estimate the otherday for $850.  
 
Maybe Deb1 has 3 tanks in her house.  
 
Edited by Reggie 2, 2016-03-20 11:03:15

The problem with many new buildings is that the fees are kept artificially low to encourage sales. Then 5 years later the reserve fund study (which is legally required) is actually looked at and it is realized how deep in the hole the Corp is as due to low fees requiring get a huge jump to set things right.  
 
Any new building of any size charging less then 200 and offering any services at all is probably not doing what it needs to for long term stability. Of course many don't care as they only wanna stay till the kids are done school or they are flippers... Makes Agm's fun when half don't care about anything beyond 2-5 years and moan about every little increase or simple financial truths like inflation of service costs.  
 
Essesntially its either pay now or be prepared for huge bills when the roof needs replacing and no money has been set aside.

so they are houselike with attached garage. It started at $160 a month when bought about 6 yrs ago and now this yr went up to $180. It includes insurance on building but you buy your own content insurance. After that big wind storm last yr or yr before they did do some work on shingles that had lifted or blown off perhaps. I agree it is much cheaper to pay the mortgage at these low rates than to rent in Brandon...rental fees are so high!! Property taxes are also a big fee to consider though (you dont get discount if it is not your primary home)  
And like I said I love not having to come in and mow etc

SDJ said "It covers snow removal insurance repairs and ssuch didn't think I had to state that but have seen other ads where electricity is included. But then I forgot this is good old eBrandon where nobody can answer the first original question. Or you only get people that don't have any knowledge of what was asked. Was really just wondering what other people are paying for the condo fees and not why people bought a house "

i know you didnt ask for this response either but the reason you didnt get only the response you were looking for is that you added other topics into the question that made it sound like you were complaining about the fees and not only wanting to know what others pay and what they include  
 
discussions really are conversations and you cant control what other people want to input into the conversation so take the info you want and forget about the rest  
 
as for condo fees, i find most aren't bad for what they include as it would cost as much to get a lawn company, handy man, cleaner ect to handle all the jobs they do but like others have said the down side is that the board decides and they may not make the best decisions and either charge you lots for stuff you personally dont want or not keep enough reserve to prevent huge bills down the road and for that reason i also would stay away from condos even tho id love to live without all the upkeep  
 
ps i think its fair the secretary ect gets paid a fee, they shouldnt have to do all the work for nothing  
 
i also wonder when buying if you can actually look at the books or the meeting minutes to get a feel for how the place is run before you are stuck with this agreement with who knows how many others

Mine are $200 and will most likely be raised again this year, which isn't ideal but I understand the reasoning behind it. As I answered the OP's question, I feel it is fair that they answer one from me - do you regularly attend the AGM every year? In my experience, the people that complain about the fees are the ones who are too lazy (oops I mean "busy") to attend this one very important meeting a year in which condo owners vote (every suite has one vote) on items such as raising condo fees - if you and all your neighbors all voted no to raising fees, it may swing a vote to freeze the current fees for a year.

The fee you are paying does not sound out of line, however, as others stated, it depends on what you get with it. The rate could be lower if you are self-managed corporation, but with that comes a whole new set of problems.  
 
I would suggest you ask your Board of Directors or your Property Management for a statement of accounting to help determine how much of your fees are going toward operations and what is contributed to the Reserve Fund. Also look to see what the operations costs are in more detailed form. Are all the costs incurred really necessary or could they be reduced? You may wish to find out what the tender process is for your corporation. For example: Is the management seeking competing bids for snow clearing or are they just going with a company they have always used? Do they seek out other vendors for plumbing repairs or do they go with the XYZ company because that is the Condo President’s son.  
 
Seek some answers about the financial responsibilities from your Board and Management. The New Condo Act came into force Feb. 1, 2015. As a result of the Act, Condos are required to have a Reserve Fund Study done within the next three years since the Act came into force. The cost of doing the Reserve Fund Study must be paid for out of the operations account and not the Reserve Fund.  
 
It may be that your Condo Corporation is realigning themselves to be compliant with the new Act resulting in higher fees.  
 
 
Condo Act: http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/c170e.php#217(2)  
Act Regulations: http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/ccsm/c170e.php#217(2)  
 

Yes have attending every meeting for the two years that we have owned the condo and the first year that they voted for the increase in fees we voted for the increase as their reason for the increase was justified as they said they hadn't been raised in quit some time. When we purchased the condo we were told that the reserve fund was very good for going forward but the shingles would be the next major repair within five years so the first increase was supposed to be for just a top up to the reserve fund. The second increase wasn't really explained why it was needed which we voted against but it passed any ways as one owner had votes for about 35 units and like campfire was mentioning not many people show up so this one landlord pretty much decides for the whole condo complex as far as we can see.  
 
As for the complaining and to lazy(busy) remark maybe I was complaining a little and it maybe sounds justified as 250 a month sounds like it is on the higher side of rates within Brandon. The lazy part I don't know maybe I am lazy but like some others have stated I all ready cut grass at our farm and have a full time job off the farm as well as put hay up during the summer so I don't think i would have time anyway but what and in heck does that have to do with average condo fees in BRandon

Traveller said  
 
as for condo fees, i find most aren't bad for what they include as it would cost as much to get a lawn company, handy man, cleaner ect to handle all the jobs they do but like others have said the down side is that the board decides and they may not make the best decisions and either charge you lots for stuff you personally dont want or not keep enough reserve to prevent huge bills down the road and for that reason i also would stay away from condos even tho id love to live without all the upkeep  
 
so what you don't live in a condo but you follow condo fees in Brandon to be able to comment that they aren't that bad for what people get for them.

I am surprised the budget was voted on as the Board does have the authorization to set the condo fee without ratification of the homeowners. So it seems the fellow with the 35 votes pretty much sets the pace if it is in your Declaration / By-Laws that the budget is voted on. Perhaps the Board / homeowners need to review this practice of voting on the budget and condo fees as it is not a practical procedure. It should be a Board decision as indicated in the Condo Act.  
 
However, at the AGM the Board is to present the budget and review the previous years expenditures with the statement from your Auditor. The increase should have been reflected in the next year's budget to justify where the projected expenditures are. It may be for a major project. If this is the case, then they are in error as major project funding has to come from the Reserve Fund and not the Operating Fund. Again, this is legislated in the Condo Act.

ohyeah said "Traveller said     as for condo fees, i find most aren't bad for what they include as it would cost as much to get a lawn company, handy man, cleaner ect to handle all the jobs they do but like others have said the down side is that the board decides and they may not make the best decisions and either charge you lots for stuff you personally dont want or not keep enough reserve to prevent huge bills down the road and for that reason i also would stay away from condos even tho id love to live without all the upkeep     so what you don't live in a condo but you follow condo fees in Brandon to be able to comment that they aren't that bad for what people get for them. "

i have been following real estate including the condo idea for at least 30 years so yes i do have a personal opinion on condos and have looked into what they charge and include, i also own several houses that i have to pay upkeep and do maintenance on but if you dont like what i have to say on the matter ignore my opinion

Sorry OP, I shouldn't have added that lazy remark in my first post. Since you've attended the AGMs I don't think you're lazy at all. It's crazy how many people don't attend the AGM - maybe you could rally the people that don't usually go before the next AGM and get their proxy vote or convince them to attend to swing the vote?

Where abouts is your condo? You should request them to up the fees some next general meeting.  
You have to pay management a fee though so that part is understandable.

Dear New Here,  
You are entitled to the property tax credit even it you are renting(like a condo situation). I live in a situation where there are four apt. in a converted house. We all claim out own property tax credit.

Therese, I'm not too sure about that - wouldn't it depend on how the "house" is taxed? There is only $700 total between the owner/renters for one dwelling. At least in my experience between renting, owning a condo, and renting out a place. I guess you used the term "converted" so you could be right...but it seems odd to me.

Dear Campfire, not only do I live there I have done tax returns for over 20 years. I am sure.