When a resident moves into a condominium, they may have an idea of what to expect as they join their local Condominium Owners Association (COA). This could be the payment of assessments for maintenance and building policies.
However, life sometimes gets hectic which makes it hard to fulfill financial obligations. This is one of the most common disputes between tenants and COAs. What can a condo resident expect if they fall behind on assessments?
What to expect after incurring an assessment balance
There are some actions that a COA might take to encourage a resident to pay off unpaid assessments ranging from small reminders to extreme measures. These could be:
- Attempts at communication: An association will typically start trying to resolve late or unpaid assessments through reminders to a tenant. These could be letters, emails, text messages or even phone calls.
- Extra fees: A COA might begin imposing additional late fees on top of the unpaid assessments to encourage a resident to clear up any payment issues sooner.
- Restriction of benefits: If reminders do not resolve the issue, a COA may forbid a resident from using some of the facilities and amenities offered in a building like a pool, gym or recreation center.
- Placement of lien and foreclosure: If a resident does not pay dues for a long time, an association may feel the need to resort to extreme measures. Florida law allows COAs to place an assessment lien on a property and even pursue foreclosure against tenants who do not pay their dues.
Falling behind on COA assessments is a serious matter and these are some ways an association can enforce the payment of dues. Knowing what to expect can be beneficial for a resident trying to resolve their financial situation.