Who Hires the Condo Contractor to Repair Unit Interior?

L.T. from outside of Connecticut writes:

Dear Mister Condo,

I have damage to my bathroom ceiling from a water leak from the condo above me. The condo association will fix it but I don’t want to use their maintenance team because from past experience they do shoddy work. Can I hire my own contractor to do the job and have the condo association pay for it? They said “no” but is it legal?

Mister Condo replies:

L.T., as long as the association is responsible for the repair and is hiring the contractor you may not hire your own contractor and expect the association to pay for it. Selection of the contractor is at the association’s discretion. They are the employer of the contractor and they are the ones responsible for making the repair. If you are not satisfied with the repair, you may seek a better resolution or bring suit against the association for not properly repairing your unit but unless the work is so shoddy that it would bear bringing suit, the contracted repair will suffice the needs of the association’s obligation to maintain your unit. All the best!