Can A Board Require All Unit Owners To Pay For Fireplace Cleaning Even If They Don’t Have A Fireplace?
A recent question from a condo owner is whether she can be required to pay for cleaning of fireplaces even though her unit does not come with a fireplace.
Obviously it is not fair to require payment of maintenance of those who have fireplaces, but in Connecticut it is legal, according to Glastonbury attorney Patricia Ayars, the legal consultant to the Connecticut Condo Owners Coalition.
“I have a question and I hope someone has an answer,” the unit owner wrote me.
“While I was on my condo Board for quite a while, I’m still not sure how I legally stand on this point: some of our condos have fireplaces and a few do not. The Board wants to assess ALL the condos a blanket fee built into common charges to have fireplaces inspected and cleaned, if necessary. . It previously was, per Maintenance Standards, that whoever owned a fireplace had to have it inspected and cleaned, if necessary, at their own expense. Can the Board legally make individual unit owners who do not have a fireplace underwrite the cost of those who do own fireplaces?
“Needless to say, ALL Board members have fireplaces.”
Atty Ayars said if the condo documents permit such charges, everyone must pay.
And there is no question that condo boards can and do require regular maintenance of fireplaces to reduce the chance of an uncontrolled fire.
“In principle, the Association could have the power to make an assessment for fireplace cleaning,” Ayars said. “However, the actual power of the Association to make such an assessment and to allocate the costs equally against all unit owners would depend on the specific language of the condominium documents. Of particular importance would be:
a, whether fireplaces are parts of the units, limited common elements or common elements;
b. how maintenance responsibility is allocated;
c. how the costs of maintenance are allocated; and
d. the board’s assessment powers and procedures.
This makes me think of a related question. Can the board force a unit owner to clean an existing fireplace that the unit owner does not use?
Yes, I believe so.
Definitely incorrect. The Connecticut Bar Association (CBA) has a manual that covers a sample condo. The manual is available in the law libraries which are usually located in the court houses.
This manual states in Section 19.3 (b) that repairs of the chimney serving Unit 1-9 shall be assessed against Unit 1-9. Obviously, furnaces would be covered in the same manner. The section is labeled, “Common expenses attributable to fewer than all units.”
Also, the CIOA, Section 47-222 (c) states that in the event of conflict between the Declaration and the CIOA, the provisions of the CIOA shall prevail. Therefore, the CIOA, Section 47-257 (c) (1) and (2) shall prevail. This section deals with expenses that benefit fewer than all units.
What if you are a unit owner in a complex that has 204 units and 118 units are affected with crumbling foundations. The foundations are a common element and our unit is affected. Our board and management states that it is the responsibility of the association for repairs and maintenance. The cost is $9 Million to remove and replace the concrete foundations. We are hoping Public Act 17-2 will be amended to include condo complexes with structures over 4 units, such as our complex in Vernon, CT, the hardest hit complex in the affected region of CT. The 86 unit owners whose foundations are not affected do not believe they should have to pay towards the special assessment condo fees. That is if we get included in the funding and if the Captive raises the $175,000 cap because an 8 unit structure will cost $650,000 to raise, remove and repair the large structure. 118 unit owners are affected where as 86 are not, however if maintenance of common elements falls to the association wouldn’t that be all unit owners regardless of if they are affected?