One Change to Condo Legislation: Restricting Access to Personal Information to Protect Directors and Managers from Harassment

Condominium communities are built on cooperation, shared responsibilities, and mutual respect. Condo directors and property managers play a key role in ensuring that everything runs smoothly in these communities. They make important decisions that impact residents' daily lives, from overseeing finances to addressing maintenance issues. Many of these directors and managers volunteer their time and expertise to help their communities, but in recent years, they’ve faced an increasing amount of harassment. What should be a rewarding experience has become a difficult and sometimes unsafe role for many.

This growing problem is partly due to the easy access residents have to personal information about the directors, including their home addresses. While this information is meant to ensure good communication, it has been misused by some residents to harass or intimidate directors and property managers. Instead of simply communicating with board members, some residents have crossed the line into making threats or engaging in troubling behaviors outside of their professional roles. This has made directors and managers feel unsafe, undermining their ability to do their jobs and causing stress and fear.

To address this issue and make condo communities safer for those in leadership positions, we spoke with Deborah A. Howden, a Condo Lawyer at Shibley Righton LLP. Deborah suggests a change in condo law: restricting access to the home addresses of directors and property managers. 

Restricting Access to Personal Information to Protect Directors and Managers from Harassment

The Issue: Increased Harassment and Insecurity

Harassment against condo directors and property managers is no longer a rare occurrence. According to Deborah, many directors and managers are feeling more unsafe than ever before, and much of this insecurity stems from the fact that owners can easily access personal details of directors, including their home addresses. While this information is typically shared for communication purposes, it has unfortunately been misused by a minority of residents who target directors outside the workplace. In the worst cases, directors have been subjected to threatening behavior or intimidation in their personal lives, which undermines their ability to perform their duties effectively.

Check out more of our articles about Harassment in Condos:

>> Violence and Harassment in Condos: One Year After the Shooting + What We Can Do About It

>> Condo Community Beware: The Condominium Authority Tribunal Takes a Stand Against Harassment in Condos

>> Call to Action: Together We Can Stop Harassment in Condos By Sharing Our Experiences

The Proposed Change: Restricting Access to Personal Information

In light of these growing concerns, Deborah suggests a critical change to condo legislation: restricting access to the home addresses of condo directors and property managers. This adjustment would better protect the privacy and safety of those serving on the condo board while maintaining the transparency required for communication within the community.

The proposed change would allow directors and managers to focus on the needs of the community, rather than living in constant fear of being harassed or targeted in their personal lives. As Deborah points out, while transparency in governance is important, the current system puts the personal safety of condo board members at significant risk. By limiting access to sensitive personal information, condo communities can ensure that those who volunteer their time to govern are able to perform their duties without fear of retaliation.

Why This Change Matters: Creating a Safer, More Respectful Environment

The implementation of this change would help foster a safer and more professional environment for condo boards and managers. By protecting directors’ personal information, condo communities would send a clear message that harassment has no place in governance.

This change would also alleviate the stress and anxiety that directors and property managers may feel when carrying out their responsibilities. Without the looming threat of personal attacks, these individuals would be able to give their best to the community, creating a more effective and positive atmosphere within the condo board.

Moreover, limiting access to personal details would not only protect the individuals on the board but also ensure that condo governance remains focused on what truly matters: the collective interests of the community. Directors would be able to continue using their expertise to enhance the quality of life for residents, without being distracted by safety concerns.

Further Resources: A Change for Better Protection Against Harassment

Check out our other blog posts in the “Harassment in Condos” series:

1 of 6: “Incivility in Condos: Harassment and Violence in the Workplace and Our Community”.

2 of 6: “Harassment in Condos: A Troubling Trend and Its Impact on Condo Managers and Property Management Companies”.

3 of 6: “Incivility and Harassment in Condos: Exploring Existing Measures”.

4 of 6: “Getting Proactive About Preventing Harassment in Condos: Coming Together as a Community of Condo Managers, Directors, Vendors, and Residents”.

5 of 6: “Protecting Directors and Residents Against Harassment in Condos: Existing Legislative Measures + Future Considerations (Pt. 5/6)”

6 of 6: “How Condo Communities Can Take Action Against Harassment: Top Takeaways for Condo Managers, Boards, Residents, and Vendors (Pt 6/6)”

Our blog also offers a wealth of information on relevant condo law topics, making it a valuable resource for property managers and boards alike. Or, explore Stak’d, our library with over 10,000 hand-curated condo-related resources for additional summaries and tools, or dive deeper into our blog for more detailed discussions on topics that matter to you and your community.

A Step Toward More Respectful Condo Communities

The safety of condo directors and managers is an often-overlooked aspect of condo governance, yet it is critical to maintaining a healthy, functioning community. By making a change to condo legislation that protects personal information, we can ensure that directors and property managers feel secure in their roles. This change would help prevent harassment, protect their privacy, and allow them to focus on their important work without fear of personal threats.

As we move forward, it is essential that condo boards, residents, and lawmakers work together to ensure that everyone involved in condo governance is treated with respect and dignity.

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Do you believe restricting access to directors’ personal information would help reduce harassment in condo communities? We’d love to hear your thoughts on this important issue. Share your thoughts below!

-Stratastic Inc.

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