Becker & Poliakoff

Who is Responsible for Electrical Wiring and Plumbing Repairs?

Who is Responsible for Electrical Wiring and Plumbing Repairs?

Disputes over maintenance, repair and replacement responsibilities are common in community associations and a well drafted declaration or amendment to the declaration can help prevent disputes over who (owner or association) is responsible for a specific item of maintenance.

Regarding how to interpret your existing condominium documents, the unit boundaries will be defined within the declaration and sometimes within the site plan. Any item/component including electrical wires and plumbing located within the unit boundaries is the unit owner’s responsibility to maintain, repair and replace (unless the declaration states otherwise). In contrast, any item/component located outside the unit boundaries is a common element (or a limited common element) and the association is responsible to maintain, repair and replace the common elements unless a given item is identified in the declaration as a limited common element (benefiting the subject owner) and also identified as being the maintenance, repair and replacement responsibility of the unit owner.