main water pipe in building has leaky connection

Started by AriesN • 4 replies • 1150 views

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AriesN (Ohio)
Posts: 3

Posted:

My kitchen ceiling was leaking. A plumber was called. He said the main water pipe for the building was leaking. He said I was not responsible for the repairs. The manager for the condo association wants to put the responsible on my insurance. My insurance was canceled in 2015. What can I do?

MarkM31 (Washington)
Posts: 494

Posted:

Read your CC&Rs. They will probably spell out who is responsible. While the plumber likely didn't finish at the top of his Harvard Law class, I would guess he is right.

If this goues on too long, you'll have to reach into your pocket and pay for the repairs. Then you could sue the HOA and (likely) recoup all your funds, including all costs of your suit.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Read and understand your governing documents so you know who's responsibility it is.
Request a meeting with the Board (vs. the manager) and get a decision from the Board.
Also, request a copy of the Master insurance policy. You can always make a claim directly to them.

Oh, you may want to purchase insurance.
If you had insurance, you could file a claim - have your place repaired and the two insurance companies would deal with each other on who will pay. Without insurance, you need to do all of this work.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

Sounds like you're in a condo, Aries? Anyway, as others have said, read your documents, probably your CC&Rs (declaration, covenants). There, you may find that the HOA repairs for walls & floors, but that you're responsible for your personal property including cabinets.

But I don't know--I'm going on our CC&Rs in our condo building; yours might be different. Yours also might require that you have your own policy; ours do.

MarkM31 (Washington)
Posts: 494

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By KerryL1 on 05/27/2017 11:47 AM
Sounds like you're in a condo, Aries? Anyway, as others have said, read your documents, probably your CC&Rs (declaration, covenants). There, you may find that the HOA repairs for walls & floors, but that you're responsible for your personal property including cabinets. .

But a court may disagree, finding that the party responsible for the damage (in this hypothetical case, the HOA which owns all the pipes) is also responsible for making everyone whole who suffered damage from the leaks, CC&Rs be damned.

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