In the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Milton after it made landfall near Sarasota on Oct. 9, 2024, many Florida condominium owners had to grapple with a fairly common but often confusing question: Who is responsible for repairing damage caused by association-initiated work?
A recent post on the popular Reddit r/HOA forum shines a light on this scenario. The post, “HOA is going to cut up my kitchen and not repair the damage,” comes from a unit owner in a five-story condominium building that sustained significant storm damage. Many of the residences at the property remain uninhabitable, and the association has begun extensive repairs, which include the replacement of aging plumbing riser stacks throughout the building.
The conflict arises from the association’s decision to replace these pipes not only in damaged areas but also in the undamaged sections of the building. According to the post, owners of the unaffected units have been told they must cover the costs of repairing any damage to their interiors caused by the pipe replacements, which could result in damaged cabinetry, countertops and tiles…