A.J. from Middlesex County, Connecticut writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
I bought a condo in an old house that was converted into 8 units. It’s been nothing but problems for me. I am 63 and 100% disability. I have an emotional support animal, which was only the start. I closed on this nightmare late August 2021. It started with most of the electrical plugs not working, my unit is the only one heated by electricity. I have one radiator in my bathroom, doesn’t work. I was told that my HOA included heat and hot water, it does not. Prior to moving in, a new couple purchased the unit below me, and the woman had a fit that their unit was more expensive than mine and was told that it was due to my unit being most electric. She gets on the association sends me a letter increasing my HOA dues. It was obvious that this person had issues with me. October 5 2021, all the unit owners received a special assessment from January 2021 till December 2021, as they first said it was due to a possible roof repair. That was a lie. Then I asked to see all the receipts for the year, 4 times I requested these, and never got them. I ran out of money as I had to replace the refrigerator, washing machine broke, and leaked everywhere due to blockage of plumbing pipes in the walls somewhere in the house. I had light bulbs explode in the outlets, burn fingers on light bulbs. (edited for space) Its really messed up. I have to walk to a laundromat, as I don’t have a car…I cry almost constantly, as I can’t afford a lawyer, I have my unit on the market, it’s been less than a year, but feels like an eternity. I may lose my unit., everything I saved for. Please help.
Mister Condo replies:
A.J., I am most sorry for all of your troubles. I had to truncate your letter as it was just too long to publish here. Needless to say, this particular HOA unit is a bad fit for you and a true nightmare on so many levels. I am sorry for your personal issues that make all of this even more intolerable but the reality is that you, your neighbors, and your HOA do not see eye to eye on issues that matter most to you. You have alleged a great deal of wrongdoing by the HOA. Since you cannot afford an attorney, your only other choice is to seek legal aid from some type of housing advocate or volunteer service. Perhaps call a local college and see if there is a law student who would be willing to listen and help you file complaints or even a lawsuit with the right agencies. Your fixed income may be an issue in keeping current with your common fees but if you don’t pay, you are absolutely correct in stating that you may lose your home. I am not sure if you have the ability to sell and move but, really, that is your best option at this point. There is no reason to stay in a home or an HOA with this may problems. All the best!
So sorry for this. I think back to when I bought my condo, I thought *wow* how reasonable the condo fee was, I was sooo naive. I didn’t know what awaited, lurking right around the corner, were multiple waves of tsusami-sized assessments, and condo fees tripling over a series of a few years, but that saved our complex from going under. But what a shock, and I was scared for years.
I’d make sure you have a list of all the things you have repaired and replaced and paid off assessment for any buyer. Many people really can’t afford an attorney over the types of issues they have with their association or their purchase not being as it was represented. You probably have already, but if not, ask your closing attorney how did the seller get away saying heat and hot water included and wasn’t, and also any other obvious misrepresentations not on the property disclosure, or even the association going up on just your fee. Yikes. And if no disclosure for your condo was provided by the seller, you were due a few hundred dollars. Would the attorney take your matter on a contingency basis? doubtful, but worth asking.
This is way too much happening at one time to deal with, esp someone on disability. If you haven’t, try contacting CT Statewide Legal Services (prob have to complete an intake form online). I don’t know if they can provide any assistance, most real estate matters they do not, but for any assistance either now, or going forward when you get a contract on your condo, as to where to go, any security deposit help, etc. There may be help for small repairs such as electric, if an agency can help you sort through available funds for people on disability, etc. Your state representative and/or your state senator may be able to obtain info for you for any funds available.
Also, if there is financial counseling, if you end up you can’t pay all your bills, which ones to pay or any other alternatives.
Thank you for your answers, I have reached out to everyone and anyone, seems like CT does not want to aid with condo’s without management, and only 8 units.. They tried to kill me last week by putting poison in the laundry in the basement, that was supposedly purchased by the tenants 2 years ago…As my washer and dryer in my unit quit, They said I have to pay 160.00 to the tenants to do my wash. I’ve been walking to a laudromat, had a small heart attack 2 weeks ago, Dr says due to stress.. I’m ok better a bit…I called the local police when I found poison in the dryer… the president said to do my laundry downstairs, so I don’t have to walk a mile each way to go to laundrymat. That uprubtly stopped,,got a note with a threat to not use the laundry.. My reply, “as this is not a common expense, I’m calling the water company, and have them put in meters for the water and the electricity, as I have to pay for it in my HOA…..NO WAY….I almost died…This must stop
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