Part of HOA and condo management is knowing what to do during an emergency. You may not already have a plan in place for everything that can happen, but it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with potential issues to be better prepared if they do happen. One thing that can happen in a condo is a water leak in one of the units. Unlike a home with a water leak, this can impact other owners in the building. These are some tips to use if there is a water leak in your condo.
Shut the Water Off to the Unit
The first thing you want to do is turn off the water to the unit. This will limit the amount of damage to the unit. By shutting off the water to the unit, no more water can leak into that unit and those surrounding it. As soon as you find out about the leak in the condo, you want to limit the damage as much as possible, and this is the best way to do that.
Notify Surrounding Units of the Leak
The next thing you want to do is notify any surrounding unit owners or renters of the leak. There is the possibility that there will be some water damage in surrounding units, and you want to make sure they are aware of this as soon as possible. Additionally, when it is time for repairs, access may need to be given from those units to make them. The sooner you notify the unit owners and renters, the more likely they will be happier to help and the more grateful they will be.
Determine Who is Responsible for Repairs
Once the emergency portions are taken care of, the next step is determining who is responsible for the repairs. Every HOA and Condo association is different. You will want to know and understand the insurance clauses for your organization. For some, the HOA may be responsible for the repairs. For others, the owner of the unit with the leak will be responsible. Additionally, there may be some gray areas depending on what caused the leak to occur in the first place.
A water leak in a condo has the potential to be costly and damaging. Using these tips, you can make sure that you do everything correctly to limit damage and make the situation as easy and painless as possible. For more information on how to deal with this and other HOA issues, be sure to contact Ardent Residential.
