guest blog by Deborah Goonan
I have read many, many stories similar to this one in New Jersey. Last November, a devastating fire destroyed 18 condo units. After a year, the HOA has finally begun to rebuild. It might be another year until these owners can move back into their homes.
Not only have these condo owners lost everything, they have also had to scramble for temporary living arrangements, and pay their mortgages and assessments while waiting for the Condo Association and insurance companies to get their acts together and rebuild their units.
My grandmother had a favorite saying, “Too many cooks spoil the soup.” That definitely applies when you have to coordinate multiple owners, their insurance companies, and the Condo Board to work with engineers, contractors and permitting agencies to rebuild both private units and common property. As a condo owner, you have little individual control over when and how repairs and rebuild will take place.
(news article about NJ condo owners one year after fire)
Fires in condominium associations cost innocent homeowners their homes. Whether intentionally set, or by accident, some board members seize this as an opportunity for the and they take full advantage of this opportunity. They are sometimes in cohoots with the insurance company, or are in this industry themselves, or have close friends in the industry. Ask any homeowner made homeless in this nightmare and you will hear of the web of corruption and deceitful, self serving acts of HOA, or COA board members when such a tragedy takes place to others
They do not care who they hurt, or even if lives are taken. they care about what they want and will use any form of criminality and collusion to get it.