Lawyer turned television star is mondo busy

Oct. 21, 2006. 01:00 AM
ELLEN MOORHOUSE
SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Toronto condominium lawyer Denise Lash is taking on a few new roles, including safecracker.

It's all part of Lash's recent initiatives aimed at educating consumers about life in the condo world.

Through her new company, MondoCondo Media Group Inc., Lash has launched a television show, MondoCondo, which began airing last week, and the Toronto Condo Show, which is set to run Nov. 10 to 12 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

During a Mission Impossible-inspired caper in her first TV episode, safecracker Lash joins forces with "the Seducer" in a dangerously low, red, strapless gown and 12-inch, clear plastic heels to break into the bank vault in developer Harry Stinson's One King West condo-hotel project in downtown Toronto.

But no intrigue is necessary. Stinson, uncharacteristically attired in a tuxedo, is ready to usher Lash into the two-storey safe, which he has converted into a 40-seat lounge for condo residents.

As talkative and enthusiastic as always, he discusses the history of the former Dominion Bank of Canada head office, built in 1914, and describes the difficulties of transforming the impressive building with its huge vault into a condo-hotel complex.

As television host and condo show promoter, Lash is aiming to crack one big challenge she has seen in her 16 years as a condo lawyer: the need for education.

"Because we've acted for developers, and I've acted for numerous purchasers and started practising condominium corporation law, I see all sides," says Lash, who works with the firm Miller Thomson LLP.

"I started realizing a need for consumer education because of complaints from the developers that owners don't understand the (condo) documents — they don't read them; (and) complaints from the owners that nobody ever told them.

"Property managers get frustrated with owners and board members because they think: `Why don't they read their documents.' So people blame each other and nobody takes responsibility."

Of course, bylaws, rules and regulations are mind-numbingly dry, although the problems and people in the condo culture can make for compelling stories.

"I do all sorts of seminars, and I realize if you're boring, people are not going to learn," says Lash, who has served on several condo industry associations. "How do you do it in an entertaining way? That was behind the whole concept, coming up with MondoCondo and doing the (condo consumer) show."

Each television episode, introduced with upbeat music, snappy pacing and colourful graphics, will have several segments.

There will be visits to luxury condos, such as the downtown penthouse owned by developer Howard Cohen, of Context Developments, in a project he built in Toronto's entertainment district.

Or there's the far more modest loft in the second episode of a bikini model, who launched her career as a Hooters' calendar girl. She also runs her own business out of the two-level condo, booking models for parties and events.

Other regular MondoCondo features include an industry panel offering advice to buyers, tips and recommendations from Lash on condo issues, a blow-by-blow chronicle of a four-week renovation, and segments on specific issues — from rule-breaking pet owners to the process of building a condo.

For Lash, one of the most interesting stories so far has been about a woman who suffered the effects of mould for years without realizing it.

"So, there's a learning process of how you take care of your HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) unit and how you remediate mould," says Lash.

The idea of sponsoring the condo show grew from a party Lash held last year to announce the idea for the TV program. The event attracted 600 people, more than she had expected.

"It just showed me there was a real need to do something, and not just to educate people, but to get people in the industry together — the entire industry, not just the developers, but the service providers and the board members," says Lash.

She expects about 15,000 people to attend the show, which will have about 100 exhibitors and a roster of speakers and entertainment.

courtesy of Toronto Star

Success Story: Denise Lash: Condo Lawyer Turned Condo Queen

Here's a great career "success story" of one lawyer - Denise Lash of Canadian legal powerhouse Miller Thomson LLP - who leveraged her expertise in a fairly esoteric and dry practice area - condominium law - into a thriving media business - MondoCondo Media Group Inc. - that teaches consumers about condominium ownership and helps developers and condo-related vendors market to condo buyers.

Among the media projects launched by Lash's company is a television show, MondoCondo, which began airing earlier this year. The show will feature visits to luxury condos, profiles of individuals who operate businesses out of condos, tips and recommendations from Lash on legal issues, and a blow-by-blow chronicle of a four-week renovation.

Lash's company also organized the Toronto Condo Show, which ran from November 10th through the 12 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, and was billed as a "1-stop shop" for anything a consumer would want to know about buying, designing, working and living in a condominium. Next year's show will run from October 19-21, 2007 at the same venue.

Moral of the story: think out-of-the-box about how your legal specialty can be leveraged into new and exciting business opportunities.

courtesy of www.jdblissblog.com

Condo living is not for everybody

Jul. 16, 2006. 01:00 AM
ELLEN ROSEMAN

Condo living requires flexibility, co-operation and compromise — words you don't see often in developers' ads. It's not the right place for you if you want to be left alone to follow your own desires. Moving into a condominium development means obeying its rules, even if you disagree with them.

You may have to leave your cat or dog behind. You may be restricted from putting decorations on your front door. You may be prohibited from renting out your unit for short periods. These rules make sense in terms of avoiding conflicts among people trying to live closely and peacefully together. Short-term rentals, for example, can be disruptive to long-term owners.

"If tenancies of under six months are permissible, you risk buying into a building that is really just a disguised hotel," says Keith Bricknell, a condo owner in downtown Toronto. "You will never really get to know or trust your neighbours, because some of them will be changing, as often as daily. "Unfortunately, that has implications for things like security and the care that residents take in avoiding damage to the common elements."

This is an extra dimension you rarely hear about when you move into a condo. You learn about it through experience. You will be governed by a condo corporation, which can pass bylaws of all kinds. It has the power to raise your monthly fees and levy a special assessment for upgrades. Refusing to pay your share will get you nowhere. The amount owing will be added to your mortgage or registered as a lien against your property. Who's on the condo board, you ask. What experience do they have in putting together budgets and managing real estate? Well, they're probably homeowners like yourself — but with the time to devote to unpaid work. Boards are usually staffed by volunteers. You may not want to participate on the condo board, but you still have to abide by its decisions.

"The biggest appeal of condo living," says Bruce Cohen, a former owner, "is freedom from worry. Others do the maintenance and property management.

`The biggest appeal of condo living is freedom from worry'
Bruce Cohen, former condo owner

"The better boards circulate an agenda in advance. Otherwise, the meetings can last until 3 in the morning." Financial literacy is a common failing, he says. Many condo directors don't understand budgets and how to prepare them. Boards need to build a cushion — equal to two or three months' worth of common expenses — so they won't be caught short by unexpected repairs. "Instead of looking six months or a year out, the directors just look at immediate expenses," Altaf says. "When I talk to boards and go over things, there are no questions asked. People can't wait till the meeting is over." Directors of a condominium corporation should understand they're legally liable for what they sign. They should not simply approve, or rubber stamp, what's placed in front of them. What does it take to be a condo director? How do you get prepared?

Denise Lash, a condo lawyer with Miller Thomson LLP, is often asked for advice about what's required. She starts with the common complaints from unit owners. "We don't know what's going on in our corporation." Communication skills are important. Effective communication with residents will result in more volunteer participation and more co-operation.

So, what makes a good president? Lash says four qualities are essential:

1. The ability to make decisions and stand by them.
2. The ability to take charge and make things happen, even when difficult or unpleasant issues are involved.
3. The ability to place the corporation's interests ahead of any personal issues or gain.
4. The ability to gain the trust of the other board members and the unit owners.

"It's not often we see presidents who have all of these qualities," she says. "The role of president is not for everyone. It's especially difficult when the efforts of the president and board aren't appreciated by the residents." There's no formal training required to become a condo director or president of a condo board. However, the Canadian Condominium Institute (http://www.cci.ca) offers basic and advanced courses in Toronto. It also has a three-hour seminar, Condo 101, to be held in Toronto on Saturday, Sept. 16.

courtesy of Toronto Star

A one woman condo industry

Oct. 31, 2005
By Mark Bourrie
For Law Times

Toronto lawyer Denise Lash has become a one-woman condominium industry.

Lash, an associate at Miller Thomson LLP and one of Toronto's most well-known condominium law specialists, has turned 15 years of experience into a multi-media enterprise.

Each week, she reaches more than 250,000 readers as a columnist for the commuter-friendly Metro newspaper, writes the “Condominium Report” for the Real Estate News, and guests in the Toronto Star’s “Ask the Expert” column. She is also a frequent guest on Global TV, Rogers cable, and CFRB and CBC Radio shows.

As well, she is one of the people behind MondoCondo, one-day trade show that will, with luck, also be the name of a new TV show.

The MondoCondo kick-off on Nov. 23 will be the biggest event ever in North America for the Condominium industry. Attending will be condo developers, real estate agents, lawyers, managers, engineers, architects, owners and condo celebrities, along with the media.

The event marketing will reach over 100,000 owners and industry professionals across Canada. It will be the official announcement of the MondoCondo show expected to air 2006/2007. Organizers have hired The Rio Divas, a Samba band.

The Mondocondo shows – both Nov. 23’s trade show at the York Events Theatre and the TV show that’s in development – are aimed at people who aren’t familiar with the condominium lifestyle and the challenge that can go with it.

“When people move in [to conodo], all kinds of things can happen. I had a grow house in one instance, I’ve had dangerous dogs, people committing suicide, all kinds of sensational things. Parties, odours, smoke, all kinds of things drive people into disputes,” says Lash.

When a Toronto TV producer heard some of her stories, he became so intrigued that he followed Lash around for three months.

“We went to condominium meetings where owners were removing the boards of directors because they were so angry that their monthly fees had gone up. He just couldn’t believe all the action, and he said that he wanted to produce a show on the reality of living in condominiums.

“From there grew MondoCondo,” she says.
Lash syas she hopes a network will pick up her show.

“There’s a need for people to understand what it’s like to be in a condominium because there are a lot of issues with people moving in, not realizing that the lifestyle is not what they thought, or it’s not the right community for them. All buildings are different.

“So we started the Web site [mondocondoshow.com], and now we have the show. It’s going to be an international community of people coming together: the lawyers, the developers, the engineers, the property managers, all the different organizations, to assist in educating owners in an entertaining way.

“The MondoCondo Event is going to be an annual event. It’s the first time that the entire industry is coming together.

“I’m on the board of the Canadian Condominium Institute and the Association of Condominium Managers of Ontario and they’ve come in because they think there’s a real need for this.

“And I’ve got Jim Ritchie from Tridel, real estate agents, mortgage brokers, furniture manufacturers, people from all over who are supporting this and celebrating condominium life,” she says.

Five lawyers in her firm Miller Thomson concentrate on condominium law, and, with the market for condos heating up, Lash and her colleague are busy.

“They’re so hot, but buyers often don’t think things through. They want to move to Yonge and St. Clair [in mid town Toronto] for the amenities, but they don’t think about what happens when they move in. For instance, are they a musician playing a piano in the unit?”

Lash acts, with her legal group, for 800 condominiums in the city.

“I’m out most evenings at meetings where people are angry and screaming,” she says. “There’s a real need for people to understand how condos work.”

Mediation and arbitration are mandatory under the Condominium Act “but certain things can go directly to court. We do our best to mediate disputes.

“But there are now about 1.5 million people in Ontario living in condos. Think about people living together. There are going to be issues: lifestyle, people working at night, making banging noises,” she says.

“What I always ask owners when they get into trouble is, ‘Didn’t your lawyer tell you that?’ If we can educate lawyers who acts for purchasers that may be they should review the documents and tell their clients that they can’t put up their satellite dish or they can’t put up a balcony enclosure….” Lash says. “If they ask their client beforehand, ‘What are you doing to your unit? Are you planning on moving your grand piano in and playing at all hours of the night?’ they can prevent a lot of problems.”

Along with noise, pets are a big issue among condo owners and managers. About 10 percent of the condominiums in Toronto ban all cats and dogs.

Lash says buyers need to look at the condominium they’re buying to determine how much tolerance the residents and management have for pets, kids, and the associated troubles that may come with them.

“Most families prefer to live in town-home condominiums. There are apartment condos that can work for families, but they’re fairly uncommon,” she says.

She says pet owners also have to use common sense if they expect to get along with their neighbours and fellow condo owners. As well, condos need clear rules on pets.

“I handled one case where a condo owner left a couple of cats alone in the unit for two weeks. Urine had seeped into the neighbours apartment. This kind of mistake will cause problems with any neighbour, whether or not they live in a condo,” she notes.

Janice Pynn, President of the Toronto Canadian Condominium Institute, says she thinks “the entire condominium industry stands to gain enormous educational benefits through a condominium show.

“MondoCondo is more than just a television show, it is a resource designed to provide condo residents and purchasers with the information and support they need to improve their quality of life and enjoyment of their homes,” says Pynn.

“After researching the industry, it was clear that there was a real need for a brand that would both educate and entertain this rapidly growing market segment.”

courtesy of Law Times