L.T. from Pennsylvania writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
We are a large complex (200+ units). The layout is such there is a front section and a back section divided by parking lot. All the board members live in the front section. For the past couple of years, they have only been doing upgrades to the front section i.e. repaving parking and driving area, pressure cleaning and sealing roofs. When asked when rest of complex to be done keep getting run around. Even daily maintenance is different, the sidewalks are cleaned regularly in the front not so in back. There is a noticeable difference between the front and back areas. What can I do about this, of course I live in the back section. The maintenance fees are the same for everyone.
Mister Condo replies:
L.T., I am sorry that you and the folks in the back section aren’t getting your share of the maintenance expenditures. If you’ve followed my column for any length of time, I am sure you can guess what advice I will give you. Vote out the Board members that are the problem. In this case, it sounds like all of them. Folks from the back section, you included, need to step up and run for Board positions and get what’s yours. If you have five Board position, all you’ll need are three from the back section to have your rights protected. I can’t think of any reason that all of the Board should be from the front section. The Board complexion should mirror the residents. Of course, that means folks need to be willing to raise their hand and run for the job. If not, I wouldn’t expect anything to change. All the best!