M.W. from Rockingham County, New Hampshire writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
I am a condo owner and have lived in my condo since it was built in 1986. There are over 100 units. We live on a private road with an older, different, condo complex built prior to ours at entrance of road. Both condo complexes are managed by the same Property Management Company (different Property Managers) are in a huge financial dispute. Prior to our current Property Management Company, we had one previously who paid, included in our condo fees, “shared expenses” of both condo complexes as stated under Rockingham County deeds. Since 2014, our Board has failed to pay the “shared” expenses. Are we, as Unit Owners, expected to pay that large financial amount? We, as Unit Owners, were never made aware of this until 1 month ago per email from the Property Manager.
Mister Condo replies:
M.W., I am sorry that you and your fellow unit owners are now burdened with an expense that was not properly paid for the past 7 tears. The short answer is likely “yes, the association is responsible for paying the shared expenses” as outlined in the deed with the County. Further complicating the expense is the fact that some owners may have already left the community, leaving the new owners with the burden of funding the deficit. An agreement was made between the association and the County. The County has every right to expect the association make good on its agreement. In fact, the Board Members were negligent in their duties for mot making sure that the “shared expenses” we kept current. Regardless of why it happened, the time has now come for the association to get back on track and keep current with its obligations to the County. Hopefully, this will serve as a wake-up call to the association to make sure that the line item for “shared expenses” appears in all future budgets and gets paid on time and in full when it is due. Good luck!