D.O. from Denver, Colorado writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
I own a condo unit for over three years. Just recently somebody moved in. They have two boys, ages 3 and 4. The parents allow them to scream and cry every morning about 6:30 a.m.. These boys are always running all over the parking lot without holding someone’s hand or adult supervision. Sometimes, they don’t even have shoes on. Cars are leaving for work and actively moving throughout the day and night. I fear that there will be a terrible accident soon. Can I or the complex do anything about this?
Mister Condo replies:
D.O., you are right to be concerned about the safety and well-being of these children. You also have the right to expect peace and quiet in your unit in the morning. You can alert the Board to the behavior and safety issues. The Board can enforce the noise rules provided the association has rules that address the noise (most do). The Board can also enforce any rules about use of the parking lot for anything other than parking. It cannot pass rules that specifically target children but it can place rules that prohibit all residents from using the parking lot for anything other than parking and walking to and from units. The liability to the association is significant, not to mention the tragedy of a child being injured or killed because they were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Alert your Board to the problems and keep on top of them until they address them. All the best!