Buyer / Renter Beware!!

I just thought that I should write a few things that have been going on lately.

I am currently renting a condo that was built by Point of View, is run by Condo First, and being rented to me under Emerald Management.

The condo is only one year old, I'm not even sure if there was anyone living in this building one year ago, but I do know it was erected in February 2007.

I have been renting here since September 1st, 2007 and in my time here have had to report a number of issues. Since the building was built so quickly there has been a substantial amount of shifting throughout the changing seasons / weather. Some of the damages include:
Many, many drywall issues -- buckling, bulging, studs poking out, tape rippling etc.
Tiled floors-- the tiles are breaking and splitting... all the way from the front door to where the kitchen meets the living room. The tiles in the bathroom floor are also beginning to break.
Light fixture - a glass covered light fixture fell completely out of it's socket... wires hanging down holding up the whole fixture.
Carpeting - the carpet has been cut and patched in many odd directions. With the shifting floor as well, the seams are all lifting and creating fuzzy sections from simple wear and tear, and vacuuming.
Most recently the biggest issue is Leakage / Drainage. This apparent "leakage" is a result of structural issues within the building.

I discovered this issue while I was doing some work on the computer on Friday ( February 15 ) and thought my feet, through big slippers, were cold or wet. Sure enough, when I reached down I discovered that they were sopping wet. I looked down to realize all the power cords to the computer I was working on were sitting in a HUGE puddle. Initially I thought it had come from the radiators but since, I have been told, is "probably" due to leakage / drainage from melting snow on a balcony above my unit.

Firstly, as a renter I am not permitted under any circumstance to directly contact Condo First. I must contact my rental manager, which is Emerald Management. Immediately I could not reach my direct contact so I spoke with the receptionist. I phoned my manager again and reached him to get him to contact Condo First, he said he would do so right away.

I waited an hour to no response after my first call. Upon calling Emerald Management again I had to ASK the property manager to Please keep calling Condo First until he reached someone to try to rectify this situation while, in the meantime, a new leak had begun in a second room.

Two and a half hours had passed when the assistant to the manager at Condo First phoned me to tell me that she was not overly concerned with the situation, that it was "probably just leakage and not the radiators, and that it could wait until Tuesday to be fixed." She also gave me an emergency phone number which I could call if I felt the situation "got worse." I informed her that I would be calling the moment I ended the call with her. She told me that I really shouldn't because it was now 430pm and it would be considered an "after hours" call. (**Recently there was a notice circulated throughout the condos indicating that far too many after hour calls are being made and it was getting expensive**)

Upon calling the emergency line they determined they would send a plumber.

I received a phone call from Emerald Management's maintenance worker who informed he would be arriving after the job he was currently on.

At this time I phoned Emerald Management again to let them know of the situation. My property manager was not aware that Emerald had made a work order to come to my condo. I told him that a plumber would also be coming and he stated that he would call his maintenance guy and if he was close he would ask him to still stop by. At this time I also asked how to reach my property manager after hours to which he informed it would be better for him to call me, and he would do so in a few hours.

Eventually their maintenance guy arrived, took the radiators apart, said it wasn't the radiators and left.

Two hours later the plumber arrived sent from Condo First.
He also looked at the radiators and said the problem wasn't with them. He phoned the Manager at Condo First to see what to do next. She informed that she was well aware of the structural situation in this building and that the blowers should be called in to come dry the carpets.

Again, I waited 2 hours to no response. I called the Condo First emergency number again and discovered that due to a "shift switch" no one had put in the call for the carpet blowers to come. It was another half hour before that company contacted me and then I had to wait for another call from the actual service person. It was about 8;45pm when I received that phone call which told me that they would not be coming out tonight, and that they would be around in the morning.

When they arrived with the industrial fans and de-humidifier, I realized instantly that I would not be able to stay at my Condo. They pulled up the carpet in the areas that were wet and set these HUGE fans under the carpet. Obviously, blowing through the carpet from underneath, many unwanted particles and dust, etc. were being tossed all around the air, and with Dust allergies, I was forced to leave my home.

I DID NOT, AND STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED A PHONE CALL BACK FROM EMERALD MANAGEMENT. Three days have gone by, I have left Numerous phone messages and still, nothing.

I do realize that this is a long weekend, but it is not my responsibility to take care of structural issues within a Condo that I rent. I was forced to deal with situations which I am not required to deal with as a renter. I RENT so I don't have to deal with messes like this. I feel like I was left out to dry by Emerald Management and am rather furious at the whole situation.


This all being said:

I want to inform ANYONE who is looking at these Condos to buy, or even rent, BE WARE!!
Remember these three names: Point of View, Condo First, Emerald Management.

On MLS currently there are 20 units listed for sale between the four buildings in MacKenzie Towne, (Prestwick Bay) where this is happening to me. If you are considering one of these units PLEASE check it out. Be well informed before you sign anything.