K.D. from outside of Connecticut writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
I have no hot water pressure in my kitchen. It is a building problem for several units and is on the “to do” list. I have asked about getting a reduced HOA fee as I am not receiving the same amenities as other condo owners. This has gone on for 9 years!!! Whenever I bring it up they assure me it is the next priority. Can I put my HOA payments in an escrow account until the problem is fixed?
Mister Condo replies:
K.D., I am sorry for your problems and your Board’s ineffective management of the repair. No, you cannot withhold your common fees or the Board can foreclose on your unit for unpaid fees over time. What you can do is sue the association for not providing the hot water. Ultimately, that will get you the hot water, which is what you really want here. Saving money on the common fees doesn’t help. Hot water will fulfill your expectation of what the association is supposed to provide. 9 years is far too long to wait. Speak to an attorney and see what you can do to get a lawsuit against the Board in place. They will likely find it less expensive to get your hot water running than to defend against a suit. Good luck!
This is insufferable — one, that the board would let this go on so long, and two, that the owner would let this go on for so long.
Education is the key here — both board and owner.
And that’s what I think.
My son just purchased a condo mid January. He has barely lukewarm water. A few months ago the HOA replaced the boiler for the building and now the problem is worse. They have lied and said no one else in the building is complaing or has an issue. We found out today one hasn’t had hot water a year another has had problem with it for 15 years. This is not okay. We are getting an attorney. We just want hot water. Any suggestions would be sincerely appreciated.
P.K., stay the course of hiring the attorney. From what you have described, the HOA will need the extra “motivation” of a lawsuit to take corrective action.