Category: Q&A

Q: I live in an 18-year-old, 40-unit townhome association in the community of Des Plaines. It seems that, according to our declaration and bylaws, the association owns and maintains the entire shingle roof system including the skylights a…

Q:  Some years ago, I purchased a two-bedroom condo in downtown Chicago. It was advertised as having two parking spaces. They are piggy-back spaces, as the first car cannot get out until the second car is moved into the spot. From what I u…

Q. Who’s responsible for water leak damage? I am a condo owner in good standing and a former board member in my association. Several months ago my hardwood floors were damaged by a leaking radiator. In our bylaws, it explicitly states tha…

Q. With all of today’s technology available, and with video/audio conferencing by Skype or other means more popular today, I'm thinking that more associations would like to hold their meetings via the Internet or telephone conferencing. I…

Q. We have a serious problem in our co-op building. No. 1, for as long as I can remember, there have been no annual meetings for years. Secondly, there have been no elections and the same people are entrenched on the board of directors an…

Q. After this winter, a concrete walkway in our condo property was completely ruined. A few unit owners say there was evidence of rock salt being used to manage the walkways, rather than the usual calcium chloride. It’s not going to be ch…

Q. I am a shareholder of a co-op apartment building. I have a mold problem which stems from water damage coming through the outside bricks. I had a mold assessment company take air and material samples. It was determined that there is ext…

Q. I am curious about the rules in Illinois for flipping condo properties that are in default. Is it ethical that a real estate lawyer that represents a condominium association purchase a foreclosed unit and flip it?                     …

Q. I have a question concerning the confidentiality of a person in a condo or HOA filing a complaint. Number one, are all complaints confidential?  Or when a management agent of a condominium receives a complaint from a homeowner about an…

Q. In our parking garage we have access to a bike storage room and an outside bike rack that is next to a resident's handicapped parking spot. Right now the only way to get to the bikes is to "trespass" over the parking spot. Our concern …