Condominium boards do more than just collect fees from residents. They also serve as the voice for everyone living in a condominium community and help to manage the maintenance and upkeep of common areas. Plus, they set and enforce standards that help maintain everyone’s quality of life and property values.
When there need to be structural changes made to a building, when there are issues with mechanical systems or when there are issues in common spaces that require maintenance or repair, the board will likely be responsible for hiring construction professionals. Careful research is critical when hiring someone to work on condominium properties.
Bad work might mean a lawsuit
Just taking the lowest bid or quotes on a project could be a mistake. Although keeping costs low for condominium residents is obviously a priority, having the work done right the first time is also of the utmost importance. Re-doing work multiple times can cause frustration among condo owners and drastically increase the costs the board must pass along to owners. Hiring someone capable of doing the work properly the first time is the best outcome when the board must authorize repairs.
If a contractor does a bad job or uses shoddy materials, you could wind up in a construction litigation situation where you have to seek compensation from a contractor or compel them to repair a bad job. Alternately, it’s also possible for tenants to bring claims against the condominium itself if they wind up paying for repairs that don’t get the job done or if unfinished work impacts their ability to live in or sell their unit.
If the worst does come to pass, make sure that you consult with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.