A.W. from New London County writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
Can an owner hire a contractor to do condo repairs and refuse work from condo board-approved contractors?
Mister Condo replies:
A.W., it depends on the work and what authority the condo Board has on the items being worked on. For the most part, the association handles major repairs and renovations to the unit exteriors as upkeep and repair on common elements are the responsibility of the Association. Windows, decks, sliders, doors, and garage doors are often the exception, as the individual unit owner may own them. However, architectural compliance is still the duty of the board and, as a unit owner, you are bound by the Boards decision and/or approval of any repair or renovation on these types of elements. If, for instance, the Board has approved XYZ Window company for replacing sliding deck doors and, in particular, a specific model of sliding door, then, “yes”, you need to work with this contractor as no other contractor or type of sliding door has been approved by the Board. You are free to submit your own model of sliding door and contractor to the Board for approval but they are under no obligation to approve it. In fact, many Boards refuse to work with multiple contractors for the same service because it gets too difficult to monitor the exact type of item being installed.
If you are looking to remodel a kitchen or bath that is fully owned by you in your unit’s interior, you may still need to submit the contractors license and insurance information and show building permits if required but you likely have a choice with which contractor you will use.
I hope that explanation helps. All the best!
When selecting a contractor, the Association and/or their insurance agent should review the certificate of insurance to confirm that contractor has the correct type of coverage to work in a multi-unit building. Not all insurance policies will cover contractors working in multi-unit dwellings. Finding out afterwards is never good —