Most condominium Unit Owners feel that what they do within the walls of their unit is nobody’s business but their own, and to an extent, they are correct. The Association, however, is responsible for maintaining the common elements within the community, which can often be affected by “in-unit” work.
The Illusion of Independence
Condominium owners often mistakenly believe that their unit is entirely their own, similar to the concept that a single-family home is controlled by the owner. While this is partially true in that they own their specific unit, they are also beholden to the rules and bylaws of the condo association, often referred to as the HOA.
Under these rules and guidelines, there are both rights and limitations, including the ability to make alterations or modifications within their unit. Living as part of a community means that some actions, improvements, and changes, while they may be part of your unit, are off limits. For instance, common areas that are part of the community, such as a pool, gym, hallways, trash collection areas, exterior walls, and stairwells, are not specifically part of an individual unit and are controlled by the condo association. Likewise goes for the connected and shared components of the condo such as electrical wires, plumbing, and HVAC systems. Making changes to your individual unit systems may impact the community and need to be approved by the association to avoid repercussions that could result from making changes.
Potential Consequences of Condo Renovations
Relatively speaking, improvements at a condominium community are a good thing and can mean positive changes, but without proper approval there could be negative repercussions.
Should a contractor, service provider or vendor hired to do work in or around your unit make an error, there could be damage that impacts not just your unit but surrounding unit owners as well. For instance, a plumber who damages a shared water line could inadvertently flood adjoining units. Or the incident could cause a building-wide shutdown of water service, thus impacting all residents. In the case of a professional contractor doing work, the condo association may require certain vendors be used or the terms and scope of the work be approved in advance to avoid these types of unintended outcomes.
Even smaller projects such as interior painting of a unit could result in damage should the hired painters spill paint or damage walls with the scaffolding/ladders in the common hallways or stairwells. These types of incidents need to be avoided and can often be managed through a property management company who will keep a watchful eye on the improvements as they get underway.
The Importance of Proactive Communication
Communication is critical to completing in-unit modifications smoothly. As a rule of thumb, it is always a good idea to communicate your plans in advance to the property management team and discuss the role that the team may be able to play in ensuring that other unit owners are not impacted and that the improvements are in compliance with the community policies and standards. Check with your HOA to determine the proper protocols should you want to start making changes or improvements to your unit.
Hiring Qualified and Insured Contractors
As with any home improvement project, it is critical to ensure that the service provider, whether a painter, electrician, plumber, or designer, has proper insurance and qualifications before commencing the project. This protects both the unit owner and the community from potential liabilities or damages. HOAs often have a list of vetted and approved contractors with a history and proven track record of working within the community.
Fostering a Cooperative Living Environment
Maintaining a stress-free community living space, like a condo association, is a shared responsibility between unit owners and the management company or HOA. It is critical to be transparent about changes being made as well as how the community at large could be impacted by the modifications, such as noise from contractors, a timeline of work hours and days, and/or specific ways that surrounding units may be impacted such as extra service cars in the shared driveway. Respecting your fellow community members in your mission to update or modify your unit should be a top priority. Should you need assistance with the property management of your community, consider Crowninshield Management.
