[MikeRex]

I live in a Condo Community of 4 buildings, each with 32 units. Originally our outside utility rooms were left unlocked but during a spate of security concerns the Association decided to place keyed deadbolt locks on all the doors. The original plan was to make the locks compatible to our common building key but thanks to a snafu by the management company that did not happen and the Board of Directors has given them a pass.

The problem is that the building has only one water main cutoff and it is located inside one of the utility rooms. We have already had two flooding issues and fortunately someone was available to unlock the doors. However if this situation occurs during non working hours we will have to place a service call and wait until someone shows up to unlock the utility room so that we can turn the water off.

My contention is that (a) the Directors should have made sure that the locks were installed as originally planned and just as important (b) the utility rooms are part of the common element and therefore by our declarations and by-laws we should all have equal access.

Am I justified in pursuing this issue as both a maintenance problem and denied access to common element property?

Your Comments Please.

[ScottGem]

Yes. But the Board can authorize a special assessment to pay for the change.