Can the Board Tell Me What To Do Inside My Condo?

S.B. from Hartford County writes:

Dear Mister Condo,

If the association is self-managed, can the Board members tell me what to do inside my condo? For instance, change the washer hoses, clean the dryer vent every 2 years, etc.?

Mister Condo replies:

S.B., whether the association uses the services of a property management company or decides to self-manage, the powers of the Board remain the same. While there aren’t too many items in your unit’s interior that are of concern to the Board, wear items that can cause damage to your unit or your neighbor’s unit are certainly the Board’s concern. Dryer vents that are not properly cleaned allow for lint to build up and pose a serious fire threat. Almost all associations that allow dryers in units require vent cleaning or provide the service at unit owner expense. Washer hoses that are used beyond the useable life cycle as described by the manufacturer pose a burst and flooding hazard that the association’s insurance will not cover if the hoses are not maintained properly. The Board is well within its right under state law to create and maintain maintenance standards for such items. It may feel like an intrusion but, believe it or not, it is for the good on the association and actually helps keep your liability down, which in turn, keeps the association’s costs down, resulting in a better community. All the best!