5 Steps to Help Protect Against Association Maintenance Liability
1. Don't have a reserve study? Do one now.
It is important to confirm at least once per year that your maintenance responsibilities are identified and that your Reserve Provisioning and Expenditures are in alignment with needs.
2. Check your local and state regulations. Depending on the building component, there may be state or local rules that dictate your maintenance plan.
3. Do regular inspections even if they're not mandated. If you don't have legislation mandating inspections, set up a schedule yourself. Make sure those doing the inspections have the appropriate expertise.
4. Use experts to assess needs and estimate repairs. The importance of using expert advice cannot be overstated. There is always the possibility that they may recommend repair work sooner than absolutely needed. However, the Association should never gamble on holding off “a few more years” on the chance they could save a little money over time. Lawsuits can be costly.
5. Follow your experts' advice. Your actions will be more justifiable if they have been recommended by an Expert. For significant expenditures, it is highly recommended that at least 3 assessments and repair estimates are obtained and compared.
1. Don't have a reserve study? Do one now.
It is important to confirm at least once per year that your maintenance responsibilities are identified and that your Reserve Provisioning and Expenditures are in alignment with needs.
2. Check your local and state regulations. Depending on the building component, there may be state or local rules that dictate your maintenance plan.
3. Do regular inspections even if they're not mandated. If you don't have legislation mandating inspections, set up a schedule yourself. Make sure those doing the inspections have the appropriate expertise.
4. Use experts to assess needs and estimate repairs. The importance of using expert advice cannot be overstated. There is always the possibility that they may recommend repair work sooner than absolutely needed. However, the Association should never gamble on holding off “a few more years” on the chance they could save a little money over time. Lawsuits can be costly.
5. Follow your experts' advice. Your actions will be more justifiable if they have been recommended by an Expert. For significant expenditures, it is highly recommended that at least 3 assessments and repair estimates are obtained and compared.