Commercial Real Estate Law
Articles, News & Events
We
are pleased to provide our most recent news releases and articles for
your information. Our clients count on us to stay ahead of new
developments in the law and their impact on business. We constantly
research, advise and write about all aspects of the law relating to
commercial leasing.
Our commercial real estate law firm contributes regularly to the International Council of Shopping Centre Annual Canadian Law Conferences, Canadian Bar Association (Ontario) programmes, The Shopping Centre Newsletter, Law Society of Upper Canada courses, and continuing education services such as Insight Legal Education Service Programmes.
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News Article
Commercial Property Market – A
Tale of Two Regions
The economic downturn has impacted commercial real estate landlords
and tenants throughout
News Letters
Gold in the Sunshine on Your Roof –Solar Facility Rooftop
Leases
Concern over greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) has produced a new
phenomenon – leases of rooftop space for the installation and operation
of solar power facilities.
Last May Ontario passed the Green Energy Act. One of its main objectives was to establish a feed-in tariff program (a"FIT" Program) whereby the Ontario Power Authority (the"OPA") committed to purchase, at very favourable rates, all of the green energy produced in the Province. In response to this incentive, owners of buildings are likely to be approached by solar power companies wishing to lease rooftop space to install and operate green energy systems.
Once an application is approved by the OPA, the applicant must sign a power purchase contract with the OPA for a term of 20 years. An important component of that contract is the transfer to the OPA of all of the environmental attributes associated with the project. As a consequence, any carbon credits and renewable energy credits belong to the OPA and not to the solar power company or the landlord of the property on which the solar power facility is installed. Read the complete article here.
Ontario Update: Preparing for the Harmonized Sales Tax
In March 2009, the Ontario government announced that it would be
harmonizing its PST with the federal GST in order to create a single
consumption tax of 13% effective July 1, 2010 (“Harmonized Sales Tax” or
“HST”). Other provinces have previously implemented a similar regime or
are about to follow suit. The change brings with it the need for both
landlords and tenants to understand and plan. From a leasing perspective,
that includes ensuring that their leases adequately address the new
system.
Read the complete
article here.
July 28th 2009 - Realty Taxes: What To Do When The Assessor
Drops The Ball
The process of apportioning realty taxes changed
on January 1, 1998, when business taxes ceased to be imposed. Since that
time there has been no need for individual assessments for specific
rental units. This poses a challenge to landlords and tenants in net
leases because the apportionment of real property taxes to individual
units is more difficult.
Read the complete
article here.
Past News Releases
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Published Articles
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Featured Publication
No publication to date has been devoted to insurance and risk
management in the context of commercial leasing. These concepts are
highly technical and often misunderstood.
Finally, that book has arrived Insurance and Risk Management in
Commercial Leasing is the first comprehensive, yet
easy-to-understand guide that explains these matters and addresses
the interrelationship between the insurance, release, indemnity,
repair and damage and destruction provisions of a commercial lease.
>>To find out more and download order form please click here.
Events
For Commercial Real Estate Events please click here Events page.