Replacement of 2nd story entrance decking and support structures –

We are a 42 YO condo community, stacked 2 units high. The decking and support structure for the 2nd story entrance breezeway needs replacement. There are 4 units affected. 2 upstairs and 2 downstairs. The decking and supports are located at and above the 1st floor entrances.

Vendor needs “no access” to the building for 5 days and 2 days of “no access” from 8-5. Of course, the weather could delay the repair at any stage.

Has anyone had any experience with this type of repair and displacing residents? HOA provides monetary compensation to the residents who have to move out for 5 days? What happens if a resident refuses to vacate?

I retired from the Board last year after 9 years. The new Board is trying their best and ask my opinion on matters like this. Also, I happen to live on the 1st floor of this building.

Can you share your state?

In California, the individual owners have to pay the cost of relocation.

Have you checked the HOA's insurance policy for "loss of use" coverage? Have the individual owners checked their insurance policies for the same?

What John said. I can see no access between 8 am and 5 pm - that's annoying, but it's better than not being able to access the building at all. Could the vendor extend the work to make that happen?

As for the compensation, your board's pretty generous, but then again, I live in a townhouse community, so I suppose everyone has some sort of loss of use coverage in their homeowner insurance policies (at least I do).

If this repair is necessary to ensure safety, homeowners should be told that, if they aren't already aware, so I would hope someone wouldn't be contrary and refuse. Otherwise, he/she is inconveniencing everyone else and adding costs to the job. If I had to turn this over to the association attorney to see if some sort of emergency order could be obtained to get the homeowner out, that's what I'd do (and the homeowner would have to pay the association's legal expenses - that alone might give him or her pause).

Even better, if this is related to a city code requirement, I'd tell that homeowner he/she/they would be responsible for paying any fines that resulted because they got into that "hell no, we won't go" mindset.

Serious question: Do you understand how serious this is? The board and you do not know what you do not know. But you have a structural engineer who does know. For liability reasons the board should not roll the dice on this situation. Anyone not cooperating gets a letter from the attorney, or if the attorney coordinates with the police to evict the party (for safety reasons), then so be it.

Think of the Florida Surfside condominium. In contrast, for a great account of a condominium that had serious structural problems and whose amazing board (with a retired psychotherapist at the helm) successfully got people to leave for a period, see https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/home-and-real-estate/an-unlikely-heroine-steps-in-to-save-crumbling-dolphin-tower.

Yes. I am aware of how serious this is. The decking has been temporarily secured. One neighbor asked me when they were going to paint it, like it's a permanent addition :{ The board has 2 quotes, 1 is almost double the other. I suggested they get more quotes. Big issue around here is just getting vendors to quote. Especially if you're an HOA.

I am disgusted by the owner's who think we don't need a Reserve Account (and those who won't step up to serve on the Board). They want the pay as you go plan. The replacement/repairs are estimated at $8-12,000 per entrance. We have 40 entrances. OH, but they are very vocal about replacing the roads and parking lot ($750,000).

This was supposed to be my home for retirement. I have lost any faith that the community will maintain it's selling integrity past the next 2-4 years. Retire next year and have started looking for my new beginning. I can't afford to replace where I'm at, so I'm looking towards the mountains or closer to the coast. Fortunately I don't need/want much, so I have options.

good for you for seeing Condo life as it really is, a bad joke. move out ASAP. Entrusting volunteers to run millions of dollars and long term planning is just like asking politicians to think of long term conseuqences.

In my condo building, owners must pay for their own relocation during projects. There are 2 listed in our CC&Rs, one is termite work, so IMO, the cost is on owners in similar condo cases.

If it is what I am visualizing, it wound need the owners, residents out of the unit. have seen some really weird designs over the years. I saw one apartment complex that was two story fourplex clusters and the adjoining
"brezeway" was basically an elevated wood deck for the 4 adjoining units on the second floor.

Honestly, plan for worst case scenario so you're not in a mad scramble to relocate a bunch of people in a pinch.