L.E. from outside of Connecticut writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
Our association has sustained property damage by outside vendors hired by our association owners to perform work inside their units. Would the association be allowed to charge outside vendors a yearly parking fee to come on to the property to help recover some of those damages?
Mister Condo replies:
L.E., I am sorry your common grounds have been damaged, regardless of the cause. Your by-laws very likely prohibit any commercial vehicles on the property without the express consent of the Board. If an individual unit owner caused commercial vehicles on the common area and those vehicles caused damage to the common grounds, then it is very likely that the unit owner who hired those contractors can be held accountable for the damage done by their vehicles. That unit owner may be able to go after the contractor for the financial loss as well but that is not your concern. The association has rights against any unit owner who damages common grounds. Check your by-laws, speak with the association attorney if necessary, and assess the cost of repair from the damage to the unit owner whose contractor caused it. Good luck!