R.P. writes: Dear Mister Condo, Developer ended up buying condos in foreclosure; he said he owns 40 units. How many votes does he have in the association meetings? Technically, he decides who is president and everything else for that matter. Mister Condo replies: R.P., in theory, the developer has the right to vote as defined…
Category: Condominium
Does Local Building Code Supersede Condo By-Laws?
G.S. from Massachusetts writes: Dear Mister Condo, Our condo was built in 1985 and condo bylaws prohibit any external changes. In the process of finishing my basement, I want to change two set side-by-side small windows, each about 30″x20″, to one large about 60″x40″, which equals to 4 existing windows. My contractor told me that…
Condo Owner Removes Wallpaper to Find Building Code Violation
S.P. from Washington State writes: Dear Mister Condo, While stripping wallpaper from our condo bathroom, we found that the wall is not drywall or plaster. It’s Masonite or a particle board. We are the original owners, so this was a building flaw that was not to code. Who is responsible for having drywall hung? The…
Condo’s Shared Carport Might Be a Limited Common Element
M.F. from Los Angeles County, California writes: Dear Mister Condo, Is a shared carport considered a Common Area or Exclusive Use Common Area? Mister Condo replies: M.F., not all shared carports are created equal! By definition any “shared” element is a limited common element. However, since multiple unit owners (but not all) have exclusive use…