Hi all.. Hey, have a situation here with 3 condominiums, 2 pay all bills on time the other is about 5 months behind on all bills. This is rough as he has finally fallen behind enough to have tapped out the reserves and next month we (the other 2 condo owners) will finally have to start dipping into our pockets if we want continue to pay our bills on time.

We have informed his mortgage company and they have assured us that they will pay the bill if he does not within 10 days... Here is my question:

This guy seems headed for foreclosure or some other option.. what can we as co-owners do so that this guy does not end up sticking us with all kinds of bills before he is through? I mean, even if his mortgage company pays us... next time he will go 5 months again and then go bankrupt and well.. awful as this is... we figure we lose in the end (He has moved a tenant into the unit and basically disappeared... although seems to drop by to get his rent check... no forwarding address, of course).

Any thoughts on what we should be doing to protect ourselves? We are in Massachusetts.

Thank you in advance for any time spent on this... AND remember... I am a plumber... (*LAUGH*)... will be glad to help back if I ever can. Thank you.

No, in fact you need to expect to be stuck with more payments. Esp in a very small condo set up. Or of course see what costs can be cut from the condo fees,

Mass dear, I am afraid you're going to all be stuck with this mess if he has already disappeared. That's the bad part about small condos. Keep after the existing mortgage company if you can as that is where the money is right now.

If I follow this, you are the owner of a condo unit in a small 3 unit building. One of the three owners is behind in his mortgage and HOA fees. Which is putting pressure on you and the other owner. Is that correct?

What does the HOA bylaws say about this. What recourse does it give you?

Thanks for the... sympathy... All! And Scottgem, you are correct... And I will check the HOA bylaws tonight and see what is up from there. Thanks