M.C. from Pinellas County, Florida writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
I reported water damage (leaking roof) to my Condo Board on in June of 2021. Now, in late September, they have had the roof looked at, but no success yet. Is three full months a sufficient amount of time to get this fixed? (Note: there have been several, less drastic leaks over the last six years, and reporting the problem did not result in a “fix”.)
Mister Condo replies:
M.C., I am sorry that you have a leaky roof. There are many factors for the Board to consider when repairing a leaky roof, which is why it routinely takes longer than you or I might reasonably expect. If this were your own house and the roof leaked, you would hire a roofing contractor and have it fixed. Condominiums don’t typically work that way. You reported the leak. The Board met sometime after that and became aware of the leak. They likely need to see when the roof was installed and if there is a warrantee claim to be made or if the Master Policy will cover the expense of the repair. They may need to solicit bids before awarding the repair contract. They may be thinking that it is time to replace the roof so repairing it doesn’t make sense. Is three months a long time to wait for your roof repair? Sure, but it could be many more months before the Board has all the information they need to decide how they will fund and handle the repair. Protect your belongings and continue to monitor the Board’s actions on the matter. That really is all you can do. Good luck!
The fact your board hasn’t kept you apprised, to me, speaks volumes. Most complexes already have vendors they tend to use, they could accelerate getting bids if they aren’t there yet. Many boards have honed delay tactics to a science. If it is a flat roof, they esp need routine evaluations before they start leaking. However, most condo associations are very misinformed about the dangers of leaking, and allow it to fester. You should try to find out the status,. If they stonewall or respond, start taking dated photos and/or videos, and send them along. Save them and only give so much time, then go to your building department. Leaking roofs are also a fire hazard, as there is typically wiring running under the roof, for ACs, etc and the water dripping down on the wires can abrade them, and spark a fire.