If you are like many people in Chicago, you may not know who is actually in charge of HOA plumbing responsibilities in your condo or coop. The truth of the matter is that if you have an HOA, there are different people who are responsible for maintenance of certain areas and components of the building. In most cases, the tenant is responsible for things that occur inside of their personal dwelling. As such, if you have a clogged toilet or leaky faucet, it may be your responsibility to take care of it. That isn’t always the case, though, as plumbing pipes within the walls are a bit of a gray area.

Responsibilities of the HOA

If you take a look at the Illinois Condominium Property Act, it explains the various provisions for condos located in the state. In most cases, barring a covenant that has other rules, things like drain lines, plumbing, and water lines are HOA plumbing responsibilities. If there are tenant owned units in the building, the HOA is still responsible for the drain lines and plumbing pipes which are used by more than one unit. That means if a main line bursts that carries water to multiple units, the HOA is likely responsible.

On top of that, if a major repair is required, the HOA may be able to levy an assessment for the repair. This might be the case if an entire new plumbing system is needed but the HOA is unable to cover the repair. This may lead to all residents being forced to fork over part of the repair bill.

Owner Responsibilities

As the owner of a unit under an HOA, you are typically responsible for anything within your unit, which include plumbing pipes. However, this is only the case if those pipes are used only by your unit. For example, if you notice you have a leaker water line and the part of the line that is leaking only serves your unit, it will likely be your responsibility to take care of it. In addition, if your HOA has what is called a bare wall provision, damage caused by a shared water pipe may still be the tenant’s responsibility. That means you’d need to handle repairing furniture, flooring, ceiling tiles, and the like.

If you are looking for a great plumbing company with an understanding of HOA plumbing responsibilities in Chicago, consider the experts at Apex Plumbing & Sewer, Inc. You can learn more or get in contact with us by visiting www.ApexPlumbingChicago.com.