what should I do if I have cats in a no-pet building?

Originally Posted by emilyasweetie

I live in canada as well, was her condo pet friendly?

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Absolutely! I've lived in a condo as well and everyone had pets.

Sometimes there are no actual rules - management makes up their own and tries to bully people into submitting.

As the above poster said, read your by-laws/conditions/condo rules, and if there is nothing in those to say no pets, then request that they get you a copy of where that rule comes from. If they do come up with something, then have it looked at by a lawyer for sure.

I do not want to go though all the legal and lawyer bs...is it nesseary at all?
I mean what could happen for the worst case senerio?

I live in Ontario as well and I am a University student and as I've learned University students will fight anything. When I lived in Guelph a couple people I know moved into "no pet" buildings. They spent time doing their research and it seems that in atleast ontario (maybe even Canada) it is your RIGHT to own pets, and by law buildings cannot prohibit you from doing that. They can have deposits for damage etc. but they can't actually ban it, even though many building say 'no pets' they can't legally enforce it, they just make you think they can.
I would look into that clause..... you can probably find it on the internet or something.

Check out this website, I imagine the same is true for condos as for renting
http://www.ontariotenants.ca/law/law.phtml#Q6 (find 'pets' on the page)

Originally Posted by emilyasweetie

I do not want to go though all the legal and lawyer bs...is it nesseary at all?
I mean what could happen for the worst case senerio?

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Questions of who is allowed to do what to whom in what circumstances are legal matters. Just as we cannot diagnose your cat's illness over the internet, because we cannot see and touch her, we also cannot assess the legal implications of the situation in which you find yourself, because we do not know what provisions are in the legal documents you have signed. We can only speculate, and we might speculate wrong. You need to read those documents, and if anything is unclear, you need to get expert advice, i.e. a lawyer. Sorry if that seems harsh, but there really is no substitute for expert advice.

Have you found and read over your sales agreement again? Does it mention it in there? Does it mention penalties for having a pet?

If it's your condo and your cats are always inside I can't see how they can enforce it and why they would care? If the cat got out they can trap it, and take it to a shelter or dump it elsewhere depending on how cruel they are.

Unfortunately you should have investigated it further if you knew it was a no-pet building , but what's done is done!

Originally Posted by emilyasweetie

I do not want to go though all the legal and lawyer bs...is it nesseary at all?
I mean what could happen for the worst case senerio?

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It is necessary. Did you read the by-laws like someone suggested? Such a rule would be included in your by-laws. When you purchased the property, you agreed to abide by those rules. By your own admission, you knew this was a non-pet friendly building. What can they do? Fine you. A lot. And yes, over time they can evict you, even if you bought it. If the no pet policy is written in their rules and by-laws, frankly, they they have the law on their side. It doesn't matter if you think they're being unreasonable, or if the cats never leave the unit. People bought there with the expectation that it was a no pet building. Maybe they're severely allergic, or phobic, who knows. My guess is that they'll fight you over this, and will most likely win.

You bought a condo and they won't let you have a pet?! So far as I'm concerned you own the condo, you can do what you like inside that condo. I know that where I live if you buy a condo you can have pets in that condo. Every condo owner I know has a cat or small dog living in their condo.

So far as I'm concerned they are infringing on your rights as an owner. You aren't living in an apartment building, you bought a unit.

Besides, what are they going to do, evict you? You own the unit, you aren't renting. There isn't anything that they can do IMHO.

Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

You bought a condo and they won't let you have a pet?! So far as I'm concerned you own the condo, you can do what you like inside that condo. I know that where I live if you buy a condo you can have pets in that condo. Every condo owner I know has a cat or small dog living in their condo.

So far as I'm concerned they are infringing on your rights as an owner. You aren't living in an apartment building, you bought a unit.

Besides, what are they going to do, evict you? You own the unit, you aren't renting. There isn't anything that they can do IMHO.

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I have to respectfully disagree. If the bylaws and rules state it is a no pet building, then it is. If it is not stated in the bylaws, then they have no recourse against her, but if it is, they do have recourse. We don't know yet if such a stipulation exists.

There are many condos that allow small pets and many that don't allow any pet. I would never buy something if I could not keep the pet. That's why I never understood condos (IMO they are glorified/overpriced apartments that you buy).

I would take the contract and have a lawyer go over it. IF the contract doesn't say anything about not having pets, then they can't enforce a "no-pet building" as far as I know. But the lawyer would know for sure.

Originally Posted by Yosemite

Forensic - She bought the condo - she's not leasing so a whole different set of rules may apply.

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Not sure how different it is over there, but here when you "buy" what you would call a condo, unless you have bought a share of the land on which it stands (freehold) at the same time, you are buying a lease (usually for 60+ years, I'm lucky mine was 125 years) from the owner of the land, not the physical structure of the building and all rights to it. And yes there are lengthy terms and conditions!

I "bought" my place and am therefore techinically a property owner, but I bought a 125 year lease and I am a leaseholder - the building and its structures (aside from internal non-loadbearing walls) do not in any way belong to me and never will. If I break the lease I could be evicted by the owner of the building and land (known as the freeholder) despite the fact I paid the equivalent of quarter of a million dollars for that lease (yes London prices are extortionate, that is VERY cheap!) Here that is normal.

Hopefully the OP had a lawyer look over the terms beforehand - if a pet limit or no-pet rule is in the lease that you should have read before signing then there isn't a lot you can do besides trying to keep pets hidden, but if they are tough about it they may well call round to try to catch you out. If there's a moral to this story, it's never sign and pay for anything before you have read it in full!

I do hope it works out for you OK.

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

There are many condos that allow small pets and many that don't allow any pet. I would never buy something if I could not keep the pet. That's why I never understood condos (IMO they are glorified/overpriced apartments that you buy).

I would take the contract and have a lawyer go over it. IF the contract doesn't say anything about not having pets, then they can't enforce a "no-pet building" as far as I know. But the lawyer would know for sure.

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Well, since all I can afford here in the city is a "glorified overpriced apartment", I have some knowledge in the area. That kind of stipulation is probably not in the contract. It's in the rules and bylaws of the condominium association.

Even if its not in the contract, if its in the rules/bylaws of the condo association, I think you still need to abide by those rules. When we had our house in Maryland, we had to go by association rules (certain type of fencing, no antennas on the roof (for tv), had to have approval from the association if you changed the shingles or siding on the houses, etc.

Both are enforced in court. That's why the OP needs to have a lawyer go over exactly what she signed now. It will be very costly for her in the future if she doesn't!

Before we bought our House we were looking at Condos also.
You always have to check the bylaws.
Our Real Estate Agent we fired lied to us about condos.
She said they would take 4 cats and they would only take two.
Some here do not take pets either.

My vet told me that the place they lived in while finishing school only allowed one cat, so she adopted cats that all looked alike. That way the only way anybody would know was if more than one was up in the window at the same time. Other than that, when they came for inspections she would just say "hold on a minute" and run the vacuum. All the cats would hide under the bed, and the landlord just assumed she was a neat freak.


At any rate, I would suggest reading your paperwork VERY carefully. If there is nothing in writing, they don't have a leg to stand on. If there is, you need to investigate your options, and unfortunately, a lawyer will be your best bet for assistance.

Well, What's done is done, i cant change anything happend before. I didnt really pay attention to this no-pet rule when i signed the purchase agreement, no one told me about this, i didnt think it could be such a big deal. i still cant believe indoor cats are not allowed here....actually no livestocks ever are allowed in this building..
since this already happend, i have to solve this problem. i really want to keep the cat and live in this nice condo at the same time. I will give them a letter indicate that I have removed my pet permenantly from my unit on monday. but i think i will keep my cats secretly, the chances they catch them are not big i think, they always stay indoor, and never make any noise, if the mantainance guy come over, i will lock them in my laudry room which is pretty spacious for that day. I will put them in a big purse when i take them to the vet. i don think there are other ways for them to find out I still have the cats,
what do you think? I want to take a chance see if this will work out, for the worst case, if they find out the cats are still here later on, i will worry about it then.

You might have missed my post (look back, I posted a website)....... but I am pretty sure in Ontario it is your right to own a pet, there are laws. Buildings say no pets, but they can't enforce it.. atleast if you're renting.

I have always lived in places that said 1-2 cats...At one point, I had 7 cats and 2 dogs, my neighbor downstaris had 5 cats, and we fostered cats in our basement. (Landlord did know about that and was ok with it) Plus, we had a "hallway" cat. . LOL Mine were always in the windows. No one paid enough attention to notice they changed. Not telling you this is the right thing, just sharing.

Originally Posted by lmunsie

You might have missed my post (look back, I posted a website)....... but I am pretty sure in Ontario it is your right to own a pet, there are laws. Buildings say no pets, but they can't enforce it.. atleast if you're renting.

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Hi thanx for the post, I bought the condo,not leasing, and i checked the link you provided, they said you dont have to get rid of the pet unless the boards told you to,
In the letter they gave me it did mention the board of directors require me to remove the pet.......
so I think this might not be the case you are talking about. but i really hope i am wrong.

Originally Posted by emilyasweetie

Well, What's done is done, i cant change anything happend before. I didnt really pay attention to this no-pet rule when i signed the purchase agreement, no one told me about this, i didnt think it could be such a big deal.

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You need to read through everything when you buy something as important as a condo. This is why at my shelter we ask for landlords permission, or if they're a condo owner, proof that they can have a cat.

but i think i will keep my cats secretly, the chances they catch them are not big i think, they always stay indoor, and never make any noise, if the mantainance guy come over, i will lock them in my laudry room which is pretty spacious for that day. I will put them in a big purse when i take them to the vet. i don think there are other ways for them to find out I still have the cats,
what do you think? I want to take a chance see if this will work out, for the worst case, if they find out the cats are still here later on, i will worry about it then.

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I think your cats will sit in the window, and you won't be able to hide them for that reason. I think you need to go before the board, tell them you didn't realise that pets were not permitted, they don't go outside, and that the cats are your family, and you will not just dump them. You need to find out why cats are not allowed, and maybe take proof of vaccinations and spay/neuter, maybe a letter from a previous landlord saying the cats caused no problems.

Your best is to be up front about it. They have made it clear already they don't want pets, and I really don't think trying to hide them will do you any favours.

I don't know what they can do, it's a stupid rule, but I daresay they have some sort of recourse.

Here's the deal - this condo purchase was probably the single largest purchase you've made in your life, as a home purchase is for most of us, and it's extremly important you read all the papers - and even more important, have an attorney read all the papers. Did you have a real estate attorney when you purchased? Can you get one now?

Yes, bad things can happen if you just blow things off. If they start fining you, and you don't pay up, yes they can probably put a lien against your unit and eventually evict you. They can sue you if you willfully disobey the rules you, by purchasing, agreed to.

Really, it'll be worth a few hundred dollars to have an attorney specifically tell you what your rights, and your obligations, are, and then request a meeting with the board. I'm assuming there are meetings on a monthly or so basis - it's your right as an owner to attend them and make your case. But, really, you have to know what you signed.

Or, you can start meeting your new neighbors in the association, and seeing if they'd like to modify the bylaws and rules & regs to allow pets. It might be an uphill battle, but the documents are not set in cement - they can be changed if it's the will of a given percentage of the owners (check your bylaws). But, there could be a really good reason your association doesn't allow pets and that other owners abide by the rules.

Also, the management company normally doesn't just make up rules - they're following your association's specific rules & regs, and the guidance of the board of managers - a group of your fellow owners. Hey, this may be a good time for you to think about running for the board yourself next election, and seeing how you might be able to start a few changes.

Good luck - it's a hard situation you find yourself in, but I really think you can't just act as though it doesn't exist - both for yourself and your kitties. You have to find out your legal rights in your association, and no one here can tell you what they are.