Intimidation
“If you want to control someone, all
you have to do is to make them
feel afraid.”
― Paulo Coelho
Many condo residents do not know their rights. Others know they may
need help and and are afraid they may not get the help they will need.
Some managers and directors exploit those fears.
Trespassing
or solicitation
When owners go door to door to talk to the owners during an
election
campaign, it is common for the manager, security or the directors to
accuse them of trespassing or solicitation and threaten to call the
police and lay charges. These tactics can be very intimidating.
Withhold
services
The most common threat is to threaten to withhold services or to
provide tardy or poor services. Many owners worry that if they have a
water leak in their apartment, a problem with their fan coil, or need
any other assistance, the superintendent will not provide prompt
assistance if they have a dispute with the manager or the board.
Threaten
them with the lawyer
I recently heard of a condo in northern Ontario where the directors
tell the owners: "If we have to call our lawyer, it will cost you
$600." Nasty but quite effective.
Interference
There have been incidents where a director accuses a minority director,
or owners, of unreasonably interfering with the director's use and
enjoyment of the common elements. There have been letters sent by
the corporation's lawyer threatening legal action and a possible lien
on the "offender's" unit if this did not stop.
Threats
Threats of physical harm are not unknown. In a building were a woman
and her daughter were trying to bring accountability to their condo
board, they faced harassment and vandalism from the board and some of
their supporters.
A warning was written on the wall outside their unit. Their car was vandalized.
A second message added religious and racial tones to the intimidation.
A third message was when a sword was drawn on the parking garage wall
beside their parking spot.
It can be frightening to be Christian females fighting for their rights
in a condo where the majority of owners are Muslim and Tamils.
Accusations of
misconduct
I am hearing of more incidents where a male minority director, or an
owner,
that has a dispute with the board or management are being accused of
sexual improprieties and/or stalking by female directors or managers.
There are also accusations being thrown about of threatening behaviours
and physical assaults by an owner or minority director.
Is it worth
it?
A lot of owners don't think so and as a result will not get involved in
their condo's politics.
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