Real Estate Lawyers Cornwall, Ontario

We get the worry and stigma homeowners feel when they unknowingly buy on a brownfield. Will you and your family be safe, and will your new home keep its value? We can tell you contaminated land, like a site of a gas station or industrial warehouse, is reused for housing more often than Ontarians know. Especially if you are new to an area, you may not be aware of what was on a site in past. By the time a developer has constructed homes, they have spent considerable time and money on soil and groundwater studies, and hazardous waste removal. Cornwall requires a record of site condition, environmental conformance documents, and certificate of property use for brownfield rehabilitation projects. Sites are inspected during and after construction. That said, the city offers incentives to clean up contaminated sites. So to answer your question, you can sue. But your legal claim may be an uphill battle if the developer, former owner, realtor, and city can show your fears are unfounded. Potential green buyers aside, your brownfield home should go up in value just like any Cornwall home.

No guarantees. That’s up to the municipality, which makes buying a home with a street address you’re comfortable with a better bet. That said, changing your address can work if your subdivision is new and homes are still being built on your block. For example, if your new build is sandwiched between 11 and 17, with no one in between, you might make a case for exchanging 14 for a more desirable street number.

Your right to protect sightlines depends on local zoning and bylaw regulations. View ordinances may prevent overgrown trees from obstructing your view. However, taking a neighbour to court to argue your view was blocked by a second storey addition or new carriage house can be expensive and time consuming. Consider spending the money on a new location you like better. You may have a case if you can prove your neighbour deliberately obstructed your view. For example, building a high fence or planting a tree out of spite because you have a history of unfriendly relations. Talk to a lawyer, or file a complaint with the city’s building and bylaw division. Report builders who work at unreasonable hours or leave a worksite unsafe.

Cornwall has property standards, but some things you cannot do. City bylaw officers can require neighbours to trim their grass to six inches, and no higher, or keep weeds under control. On the other hand, you’ll have to sue or settle your differences privately if your neighbour shovels snow onto your yard. Garbage, debris, and unsightly backyard sheds are not permitted on residential properties. Likewise, damaged or dilapidated buildings left vacant for more than 60 days must be secured to prevent illegal entry by people, rodents, or wildlife. Stray shopping carts can be reported to the business owner, or city if they are on municipal property.