T.G. from New Haven County writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
If a hot water line bursts in an outside wall who is responsible, the unit owner or the board? Also, the line was not where the Board said it was. Our kitchen sits above our neighbor’s garage. The board said both hot and cold lines are in the ceiling of the garage.
Mister Condo replies:
T.G., typically when water lines burst it is the responsibility of whoever owns the area where the line has broken. In other words, if you own from the wall in, a line that breaks outside of your walls is very likely the responsibility of the association. Regardless of what the Board says about it, a reading of your documents will very likely clear this up. If, by chance, the documents don’t appear to provide you with a good answer, it is time to speak to an attorney who can read any “legalese” that might make a simple determination possible. There are exceptions, of course. I know of some associations that have allowed modification of water lines at owner’s requests and along with the approval to do so came the responsibility to maintain the water lines. This is highly unusual though and does not sound like your situation. If you do own all of the interior walls where the water line burst (garage ceiling is a good example, a bathroom supply line would be another) then you may be on the hook for the repair. Like I said, when the unit owner and the Board don’t agree, it is usually time for a legal opinion. Good luck!
When I started in the condominium maintenance business back in the 80s era the unit owners responsibility went from the drywall in. It’s certainly a gray area. I was at a condo where the unit owners owned the windows but many sills were rotted out and water was getting into the framing below the sills.I asked tbe board if they owned the cavity below the window which I am pretty sure they did. No one on the board knew the answer. So I will say my guess is the association owns the pipes in the exterior walls. But I would see what the bylaws say.