J.S. from San Diego County, California writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
Rain drain pipes from my back yard go under my house to the street. At the curb on the street inside the concrete form about 8 inches in the plastic pipe is crushed. Because the plastic pipe is crushed It can’t be cleaned and it is clogged from the back yard. When it rains my house could get flooded. Is this an HOA problem alone? What do you think?
Mister Condo replies:
J.S., I am sorry for your problem. Clogged drain pipes can cause a real mess for both the homeowner and the association. Unless there is some unusual wording in your HOA agreement, this sounds like the problem (and repair) is yours. HOAs don’t typically include drainage pipes as part of the common area they maintain. The street and even the curbs are likely the HOA’s responsibility. Once the pipe is on your property, it is typically your responsibility. Check your governing documents if this is unclear or you truly suspect the HOA own the pipe. Also, your local municipality might have some responsibility for some drain pipes. Again, it sounds to me like this one is going to be on you but it is definitely worth calling your local sewer department to see if it is their responsibility before you spend your own money to make the repair. All the best!