Who’s responsible for what? It’s an important question often asked by residents, and the answer is sometimes more complicated than you’d think.
Generally, the association is responsible for repairing or replacing common, or shared, elements and owners are responsible for maintaining their own homes. But there are two problems. First, some areas are neither common nor part of your home. These are called exclusive or limited-use common areas and they’re available only to one or a few residents. Who is responsible for these? Second, ownership and responsibility for repair and replacement are not necessarily the same thing. So, it gets confusing.
If you are confused about who is responsible, check with the manager or a board member for clarification. They can work with the board to pass a clarifying resolution assigning responsibility for any items that might be confusing.
It might save a telephone call if you check the homeowner documents first, but if there are any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.
