By Allyson Baker

Some owners, tenants and occupants do not take out personal liability insurance. One reason for that decision may be the belief that they are covered under the strata corporation's liability policy.

By Pat Williams

Where does Clark Wilson LLP obtain its business? There are a number of ways, which include profile having been involved in the industry for thirty years, writing articles such as this one, giving presentations and seminars, word of mouth, names on Court decisions, and so on. Referrals from property managers is probably the most significant method from which Clark Wilson gets business. As a result, we discourage individuals from contacting us on behalf of themselves when they have a dispute with a managing agent or the strata council. Indeed, we find a substantial likelihood of conflicts when considering providing services to a strata lot owner.

By Larry Munn

A recent decision of the British Columbia Privacy Commissioner's Office provides useful guidance for all strata corporations using or considering the use of video surveillance. In Order P09-02 (Shoal Point Strata Council), certain strata residents had complained to the Commissioner's Office regarding the use of video surveillance in their strata corporation. In response to the initial complaint, the Strata Corporation adopted a "Policies and Procedures for Video Monitoring", but the complainants were of the opinion that their privacy rights were not sufficiently addressed by the policies and procedures, given the type of surveillance that was being undertaken. The complainants agreed that video surveillance served a useful security purpose at the building entrances and in the parkade, but felt that the use of video surveillance in the pool area and outside the fitness centres was not warranted. They were also concerned about the use of the footage to determine bylaw infractions, as well as the live-feed from certain cameras to all units in the building.