Townhome owners association's about to piss me off

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xj0hnx

I wanna be sedated
VIP
So this morning about 5am I wake up to no water, hmmm ... went outside to smoke a cig and investigate further, and see water has filled the gutters, and the yard two doors down and there's a small fountain bubbling up water in front of that unit. I go back inside and call the city, they come out and shut off the meter, and we figure out that it's just our unit that's out. The pipes go from under the street to the meter which is on the street side of the sidewalk, and then straight towards the center unit, about six feet from that unit turn 90° and go to teh front of each unit, then turn 90° to each unit. This afternoon after work I get in touch with our association chair person, or whatever she is, and she's trying to tell me that the association isn't responsible for those pipes ...bullshit. It specifically says in the bylaws that the association is responsible for all common grounds, and since the pipe that burst isn't even in front of our unit, I am pretty sure she's smoking crack. they pay for all the lawn maintenance, tree trimming, and everything that goes on outside of the individual units.

What really pisses me off is that the person who's unit the broken pipe is in front of, had the same issue about nine months ago, and some bunch of fucking yahoos out there "repairing" it, so it's entirely possible that the break is from their bad workmanship. We have also noticed that since about the time of the repairs last, that our water pressure has been kind of low, toilets don't flush as hard as they used to, water is slower getting to the upstairs, etc... The chairperson was trying to tell me that "well it wouldn't be fair if we paid it because other people have paid when their pipes burst" oh yea? ...so fucking what? You screwed them, that's great, now she's scared they will have to retroactively compensate the other tenants for things they shouldn't have paid for in the first place. Fuck that.

So am I being a dick by making them pay for it?
 
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If you're right you're right. Holding someone to their responsibilities isn't being a dick it's keeping them in check. Who knows what other bullshit they have pulled in the past or will continue to in the future. Sounds like they've been fucking the tenants and someone finally caught on.
 
I hate homeowner associations. I have never dealt with so much bullshit.
Do you have a management company that runs your association? If so bypass this chair person and call them. Do not hesitate to call the town or a lawyer. Also remember that it helps to get a few others involved instead of you fighting alone.
 
Yeah I would definitely call the management company. Usually the "chairperson" of these condo associations is nothing but an old bitty with an important sounding title.
 
Yip, there is a management company, but there's no phone number, just an address in an office building. I'll try to contact them too.
 
Go to the next monthly meeting and bitch if this doesnt work out. I think you have a chance to have them cover it....especially when its the same spot as before. Just like ALL stupid crap we pay into.....they don't want to pay for shit. My home owners is a pain at times too.
 
What sucks is you will end up paying for it one way or another.

Look in the paper work you got when you bought your place. I had to look there to find a number ofr my management company.
 
I dont know about a townhouse but in a regualr house if a water line breaks between the meter and the house its the homeowners responsibility...but i dont live in a townhouse so im not 100%
And if when that gets dug up you can prove that it was the previous contractors shitty work ie. Bad glue joint, or if they used a smaller fitting than was previously installed which could reduce your water pressure than they should fix there shitty work for free. Also if they did a really shitty job and that water line has been leaking for a long period of time that would also give you your low water pressure.
 
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yeah townhouses/condos are different. Normally the homeowners association is responsible for any outside repairs, be it painting, gutters, roofing, or utility work. As stated previously, you're paying for it via your monthly dues, which they are free to increase without notice or reason. In addition, normally for any major repairs, i.e. roof replacement or scheduled street repairs, the association will levy a special assessment to all owners to pay for it.

Condos are a pain in the dick in most cases, especially multi-unit buildings.
 
I dont know about a townhouse but in a regualr house if a water line breaks between the meter and the house its the homeowners responsibility...but i dont live in a townhouse so im not 100%
And if when that gets dug up you can prove that it was the previous contractors shitty work ie. Bad glue joint, or if they used a smaller fitting than was previously installed which could reduce your water pressure than they should fix there shitty work for free. Also if they did a really shitty job and that water line has been leaking for a long period of time that would also give you your low water pressure.

This. if its city water on city pipes, and you pay the city, not the association, for your water bill, the due should fall on the city for anything up to and including your meter.
 
This. if its city water on city pipes, and you pay the city, not the association, for your water bill, the due should fall on the city for anything up to and including your meter.

Yea, the city already said if it had been between the street and the meter it'd be on them, but since it's on the town houses side of the meter it's between us. Looking at our by laws again it states pretty clearly that they are responsible for "common areas", and a pipe that's under ground two doors down is definitely not on my "property".
 
yup, this shouldn't be your problem, much like a leaky roof shouldn't be either. you only own the walls, in. not the studs, out.
 
Yip, there is a management company, but there's no phone number, just an address in an office building. I'll try to contact them too.

Guaran-fuckin-tee if you show up pissed, itll have more impact then calling pissed.

And no, your not bein a dick makin the association pay for it. WTF do you pay those power trippin fools for if they wont hold up their end of the deal?
 
What I hate about my condo is that I am paying for the lowest bidder that do sub par work.

It definitely sounds like it is on them. I hate lawyers but a letter from one might help you.
 
So it goes from the water plant to the meter then after the meter it splits off to all the townhouses in that row? You all share the bill?
 
So it goes from the water plant to the meter then after the meter it splits off to all the townhouses in that row? You all share the bill?

Each unit has a meter in the box, and from each meter comes a pipe to each individual unit, but instead of heading straight to the unit the pipes route together and branch towards their unit once they get to the front of the building. We've got a guy coming out today, he's pretty cool, sounded like he was going to be able to hold off on payment until we get to the bottom of who has to pay. I just don't want to pay it, and then spend a year chasing down the HOA to get our money back.
 
Guaran-fuckin-tee if you show up pissed, itll have more impact then calling pissed.

And no, your not bein a dick makin the association pay for it. WTF do you pay those power trippin fools for if they wont hold up their end of the deal?

I don't think it's an actual office, with people working in it, just a mailing address. Since we moved in I have been trying to find out why we are forced to use Time Warner Cable. I wanted a local company called Grandecom, but they are telling me that they are not allowed to service the town homes, some kind of contract, but NOBODY knows anything about it, and everyone on the board just refers to the next person.
 
Chances are.....that basic cable is included as part of the home owner's fees. We get basic cable as part of it but it leaves us with no choices when it comes to cable companies.

Have you found any dates for monthly meetings? There must be a time the board meets and allows other tenants the chance to voice their concerns.
 
I don't think it's an actual office, with people working in it, just a mailing address. Since we moved in I have been trying to find out why we are forced to use Time Warner Cable. I wanted a local company called Grandecom, but they are telling me that they are not allowed to service the town homes, some kind of contract, but NOBODY knows anything about it, and everyone on the board just refers to the next person.

I see. Ive got a friend that works for a leasing agency, thats about the extent of my knowledge on them lol.
 
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