Toronto Condo: York Condo Corp and Pro-House management

June 26, 2013 6:41 AM

I am getting ready to buy a property in toronto-- it's a renovated condo. The condo is under the York Condo Corporation and Pro-House management. I am new to this market, and the internet is filled with things these companies say about themselves. So I am looking to the hive mind: do you know anything about these companies? their reputation, your experience, stories you've heard...anything. PM is welcomed too, if you feel inclined. thanks!
posted by redwaterman to Grab Bag (3 answers total)

YCC describes the municipality in which the condo corp was created - ie. I live in MTCC ### (metro Toronto condo corp). That doesn't make it related to any other YCC. The condo board is elected by owners to make decisions, enforce rules and spend money on behalf of all the owners. One of their decisions would be to hire the management company.

Pro-House management would be the business hired by your condo corporation to do the day to day management of the building (like hiring & supervising cleaners, and putting out the garbage).

My advice would be to ask your lawyer and your realtor about what they've heard, and approach residents to ask about living there.
posted by Heart_on_Sleeve at 7:08 AM on June 26, 2013

There's a number that goes with York Condo Corporation, as Heart_on_Sleeve notes. Try googling YCC and that number along with words like 'problems' and 'complaints' to see if you find anything. Also look to see if there's a group for owners/residents on Facebook. Take minor bitching with a grain of salt on all of these, but look for serious issues.

As an example, there used to be an entire website dedicated to how completely awful the Westmount Condos at Keele & Wilson were and what a deliberate clusterfuck their management and board of directors were engaged in.

There's also a relatively new website, thedirt.co that's supposed to offer condo reviews, but it's new enough that there may or may not be any for the building you're interested in.
posted by jacquilynne at 7:50 AM on June 26, 2013

Just to clarify further the comments above: There is no evil multi-national mega-corporation called YCC that controls all condos in Toronto.

When a condo is built, a corporation is formed, consisting of all the owners of condo units. Each owner gets a vote, and they elect amongst themselves a board of directors to run the condo (see here for more info). So you really need to be searching for YCC### depdending on the corporation number of the condo you're looking at.
posted by Kabanos at 7:58 AM on June 26, 2013