HOA billing for repair, but refusing to provide invoice showing basis for charge: normal?

In my HOA, owners apparently are responsible for costs of repairing and replacing smoke detectors inside their homes, even though the HOA handles the work.

My HOA said that there was an issue with my smoke detector; it's somehow tied to the HOA-wide fire alarm system and so the HOA knew from that that the smoke alarm was defective.

So the HOA had the smoke detector replaced and added a four-figure charge to my monthly bill (i.e., the charge is over $1k).

I asked that HOA's property manager several times for a copy of the original invoice from the repair company. I haven't gotten it.

Is it normal for a HOA to (1) have a third-party repair company do repairs inside homes, (2) bill owners and (3) not provide any invoice at all to show proof of the charge? If so, doesn't that enable HOAs to impose inflated charges on homeowners?

Please don't respond with "you're a lawyer so you should know this" or "you're a lawyer so...". I've checked the governing documents and relevant statutes. I'm seeking information about how these things are typically handled in practice, please.

Thanks.

Yes! I think a grand is overly excessive. Are they sending you the bill for the entire building? Not knowing exact prices and based on other skilled labor. I would assume the average cost of a network smoke alarm is between $100-$150 and the trip charge around $80. Since HOA's are non profit, I don't know why they're allegedly inflating the bill. Something defiantly smells rotten.

I think NY is a closed-meeting state, Sheila, so Paul might not be allowed to attend board meetings. beside, he first needs to see his HOA's documents on Owner's rights to inspect HOA records. It'd be in the CC&Rs or bylaws.

If they're silent, NY statutes might help. In CA, for instance, the Davis-Stirling Act permits Owners to request inspecting records including invoices. We need to put the request in writing and the HOA has 10 days, for recent records, to comply.

Paul

Their procedure sounds fine but the cost is outrageous. You deserve an itemized invoice. Demand such.

I think the process is okay but I would want to see the invoice. $1000 can't be for just replacing one smoke detector.

If this is a condominium in the state of New York, then I would write the condo board a letter like the following and send it certified mail, return receipt requested:
---
Dear Board,

The New York Condominium Act (RPP Art. 9-B), Section 339-W states: "Books of receipts and expenditures; availability for examination. The manager or board of managers, as the case may be, shall keep detailed, accurate records, in chronological order, of the receipts and expenditures arising from the operation of the property. Such records and the vouchers authorizing the payments shall be available for examination by the unit owners at convenient hours of weekdays. A written report summarizing such receipts and expenditures shall be rendered by the board of managers to all unit owners at least once annually."

Please give me a time during the week when I may review the "detailed, accurate records" for all "receipts and expenditures arising from" replacing the smoke detector in my unit.

Thank you,

___ ___
Unit
____ Condominium
___, New York ____
Phone:
Email:
---

See https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/RPP/339-W

Thanks, everyone!

I've asked for it, by email to the property manager, several times and was told no.

Are they trying to say they had to charge YOU (and maybe some other people) because your detector wouldn’t be compatible with the repairs to the building’s systems? Did they have any installation issues that added time to the work? Those may or may not be factors, but nonetheless, more information should have been given to the homeowners who were billed.

As you know, the property manager works at the behest of the board, so if you’re going to lean on anyone, it should be them. If everyone was charged this, you may want to walk around and ask some of your neighbors if they’re just as pissed off as you are. If so, go to the next board meeting and demand answers. It’s easy to ignore one person as a “troublemaker,” but when you get a roomful of them…..And you know the rest – if they have a history of stonewalling the people who elect and re-elect them, it may be time to make a change with the next election (or just call for a special meeting to discuss this and possibly a recall). Sometimes the threat of recall is enough to blast information out of the board, not to mention ensure they’re more forthcoming next time.

By chance, do you know what kind of smoke detector system this is (the brand name)? Maybe you can Google the name and get some more information on installation, upgrades and what not, which may give you an ideal of the cost. That may be up, down or way, way up, depending on what’s going on in your community, but this information could give you some insight as to what to discuss with the board. You may find they didn’t ask any questions either and didn’t think they needed to because the homeowners were paying for it anyway (not a good excuse AT ALL).

Our smoke detector is good for 10 years. If they had one on-site I would wonder how long they had it and when it was produced. On mine if you take off the date there is a manufacturing date. If it was made before 2019 you should get a discount for that alone. I bought 10 at an electrical supply store this year and they tried to give me ones from 2015.