F.L. from Monmouth County, New Jersey writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
Can condo owners be fined for not changing electric hot water heaters every 10 years in New Jersey?
Mister Condo replies:
F.L., many associations have requirements for home and unit owners to replace appliances and accessories at periodic intervals. This keeps damage from these items to a minimum and is often a requirement of the association’s insurance carrier. In a perfect world, these standards are published and home and unit owners abide by them. But what if they don’t? How is the Board supposed to get compliance if homeowners refuse to comply? That is where the rules violation and fining clauses come into play. No association cares to fine a unit owner for non-compliance but if willing compliance is not forthcoming on the part of the owner, there is little other option. Yes, the condo owners who don’t comply with replacing their electric hot water heaters can be fined, provided that is the prescribed penalty in the association’s governing documents. All the best!