What are your responsibilities when you own a condo?

Your responsibilities As the owner of a condo unit you must: pay your monthly condo fees, including any special assessments, chargebacks or liens. maintain and repair your unit (according to the condominium declaration, by-laws and rules) elect a board to govern the condominium property and run the corporation.

Can a board member be sued individually?

Unhappy homeowners can sue the HOA and the board members individually for any number of reasons; for example, if the HOA fails to properly maintain a common area, or discriminates when enforcing a rule. The best protection against liability as an HOA Board member is to take what you do seriously.

What can you change in a condo?

The owner is ordinarily allowed to make changes to the inside of the condo unit: paint, install new carpeting, or renovate the kitchen. You don’t own anything outside of your condo unit, however, not even the exterior walls.

How do condos deal with management?

Contents

1. Know Rules and Bylaws.
2. Expect the Best from Your HOA.
3. Communicate With Other Members.
4. Stay Involved.
5. Get Approval Before You Make Changes.
6. Run for a Position on the Board.
7. Pay Your Dues on Time.
8. If You’re Fined, Accept It and Pay.

How do you deal with a difficult HOA board?

Establish a strict agenda and let everyone know that it will be followed carefully so as to eliminate any one person taking over the conversation. Give board members a chance to change their ways by having a kind conversation about the problem behavior. Above all, set a good example of what makes a good HOA member.

Are condo board members personally liable?

The answer is “not likely.” Although board members are sometimes named in lawsuits against HOAs, board members are rarely found personally liable.

What happens to a condo after 50 years?

What the law refers to in the 50-year rule is the lifespan of a corporation which is essentially the same to unit owners who make up the condominium project. However, the condominium corporation can actually be renewed for another fifty years so the ownership does not necessarily end.

What happens when a condo owner fails to pay maintenance?

In addition to covering the labor, compliance and material costs of routine maintenance, these fees may contribute to reserve funds used for major repairs and business expenses. When a condo owner fails to pay these costs, condominium corporations may seek common expense liens, or formal legal securities used to secure the delinquent sums.

What happens if you don’t pay your condo association fees?

Designed to pay for property maintenance and upkeep, as well as repairs and insurance, condo association fees are standard. If a person doesn’t pay their condo association fees, they can be penalized as such. The following considers the rights that condo associations have to recover payments when unit owners are delinquent.

Can a condo association file a lien against a tenant in Massachusetts?

If the unit owner rents out their property to tenants, the tenants may be denied these privileges. In Massachusetts, condo associations have the right to file a lien against a unit owner for missed payments, as well as late fees, filing fees, and attorneys’ costs associated with collecting payment.

What happens if a resident does not pay maintenance on time?

If a resident has not paid his maintenance due till the decided due date, you may give a written notification of 12 days extra to make the payment, and then a grace period of 3 days. If still not paid, discuss with the Management Committee and send a notice to the defaulter.