Why having a Board is part of owning a condominium
It is easy to think of the Board as a group of neighbors who volunteered to attend meetings and make decisions about the property.
They are neighbors. They are volunteers.
But that is only part of the picture.
The Association itself is a legal entity, and the Executive Board is the body responsible for conducting its affairs. Pennsylvania’s Uniform Condominium Act gives condominium associations authority over matters including common elements, assessments, budgets, contracts, rules and enforcement. The law also establishes fiduciary responsibilities for executive board members. Pennsylvania General Assembly
In other words, the Board isn’t a social committee.
There has to be a Board because somebody has to manage the obligations that come with collectively owning a condominium property.
That includes maintaining common elements, protecting the Association’s financial position, collecting assessments, maintaining appropriate insurance, addressing safety concerns, managing contracts and enforcing the governing documents.
Why has this become more complicated?
Because condominium ownership has changed significantly over the years.
A condominium is not evaluated only one unit at a time. Mortgage lenders also look at the condominium project itself.
Fannie Mae’s current project standards specifically identify project-level considerations such as financial stability, condition and marketability, insurance, project documentation, litigation and the use of common elements. Lenders may require information from the Association, management company and other professionals to determine whether a project meets applicable requirements. Fannie Mae Selling Guide
Freddie Mac likewise has project eligibility requirements addressing issues such as reserves, budgets and delinquent assessments. Its current materials provide specific thresholds and review requirements for condominium projects. Freddie Mac
This is one reason the Board has to take things such as collections, reserves, insurance, property condition and enforcement seriously.
It is also why a Board cannot simply say, “Nobody really cares about that rule, so let’s stop enforcing it.”
Rules are part of the ownership agreement
When someone purchases a condominium, they are purchasing more than the four walls of their individual unit.
They are also purchasing an interest in the common elements and becoming part of an association governed by recorded documents, bylaws and rules.
Those documents establish expectations for the community.
That is why exterior appearance, architectural changes, maintenance responsibilities, parking, collections, safety and other requirements matter.
A rule that is consistently ignored does not remain harmless simply because it is inconvenient.
If the Association has an obligation to enforce a requirement and simply chooses not to do so, it can create problems for the Association and for the owners who rely on those governing documents.
The goal is not to create a community where everyone is constantly looking over their shoulder.
The goal is the opposite.
Clear rules, consistent enforcement and good communication create predictability.
And predictability protects the community.
The Board members are volunteers
There is another important part of this conversation.
The people serving on the Board are your neighbors. They volunteer their time.
They do not get paid to review violation reports, work through collections, review contracts, discuss maintenance, respond to owners, prepare for meetings, deal with emergencies or work through the countless details involved in operating a condominium.
But the fact that Board members are volunteers does not eliminate the Association’s responsibilities.
It makes it even more important that the community understand what is being asked of the people serving.
The Board’s job is not to be everyone’s friend.
It is to administer the Association fairly, consistently and responsibly.
That means protecting the property, protecting the Association’s finances, maintaining safety and enforcing the rules that owners collectively agreed would govern the community.
Our priorities remain straightforward
The Board’s priorities are not complicated:
Protect the property.
Protect the Association financially.
Protect the safety of residents.
Protect the common elements.
Maintain the value of everyone’s investment.
And administer the governing documents consistently.
Those responsibilities belong to the Association as a whole.
The Board is simply the group charged with carrying them out.