N.O. from Litchfield County writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
My condo association forced a smoke alarm inspection on until owners last spring. Now I have a bill to pay a Fire Marshall $25 for the inspection regardless of outcome (which I passed). Is this legal for them to bill me for this?
Mister Condo replies:
N.O., there are two different things happening here. The first is the right of the association to require a smoke alarm inspection. Not only can they require this but they may have to have all units inspected in order for the association’s master insurance policy to be in effect. If the local Fire Marshall is the inspector they used and the fee is $25 for the inspection, that fee can be passed on to unit owners. After all, you did receive the services of the inspector. Honestly, $25 is a small price for such peace of mind. You might suggest to the Board that they incorporate an annual inspection of smoke alarms into the annual budget (which may increase common fees a few dollars each month) but either way, you will end up paying for the service, N.O.. All the best!
Fired Up Over Condo Smoke Alarm Inspection Fee: http://t.co/L5jvhIozqf
Fired Up Over Condo Smoke Alarm Inspection Fee: http://t.co/ze4RiIqJzd
State fire codes require yearly smoke alarm inspections of multifamily residences with 3 or more units. Some towns/cities charge for that inspection – BUT that charge is per building, not per unit. If NO and other units are being charged $25 per unit, either the Fire Marshal or the association/management company are overcharging. Southington, CT does not charge for the yearly inspections.
Your welcome. Southington just tried adding a $25 fee per building thru town ordinance in September, but we were successful in opposing any fee on residential homes and they withdrew the proposed fees.