T.M. from Hartford County, Connecticut writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
I am having water leakage in my basement along with two others in our connected condo building have problems. We had an expert come and verify the that Footing Drain has failed. The building is only 10 years old. The fix would be to excavate approximately 8 foot and fix drain. This could cost up to $25,000. Another option would be to install an internal perimeter drain tied into a sump. Price approx. $10,000. Our position is that this is outside the unit issue and should be fixed by the association. The Association has been stonewalling us now for several months mean while whenever it rains it’s a bail out the water party. I believe this problem belongs to the Association to remedy. Your help PLEASE!
Mister Condo replies:
T.M., what a mess! Living with flooded basements is not acceptable and can be very dangerous long-term, especially if mold thrives in that environment. It can be toxic! As for the fix, it should come down to who owns the failed footing drain. It would most likely be a common element, owned by the association. If that is the case, you have every right to expect that the Board would make the repair or provide and alternate solution such as the internal perimeter drain as you have suggested. The Board’s reluctance to make the repair may be financial constraint but that is no excuse. If necessary, the Board should get the bids for the work, issue a Special Assessment if needed, and get the job done. Failing to address the problem is not an option. This will be a major undertaking but it needs to get done, the sooner the better. All the best!