Balcony Replacement

[BetterLiving]

What is the name of your state?
IL
192 unit condo association. 112 units have balconies and 80 1st floor units have cement slab patio areas. Several balconies have become structurally unsound and have had supporting steel plates and concrete floors replaced at Association expense. Many patios have also been replaced at Association expense. Now, 4 more balconies have been condemned and the Board has decided that the owners should pay for 1/2 the cost ($4,000.00). Even though the balcony is a "limited common element", because the nature of the problem is structural (failing steel and welds) and original construction, where does the responsibility lie? Should the owners vote on this? Balcony maintenance and repairs have always been part of the annual budget, although only in amounts to cover general cosmetic issues. (scraping and painting over rust mostly...)
Who pays, as these balconies continue to deteriorate?

[HomeGuru]

Originally Posted by BetterLiving

What is the name of your state?
IL
192 unit condo association. 112 units have balconies and 80 1st floor units have cement slab patio areas. Several balconies have become structurally unsound and have had supporting steel plates and concrete floors replaced at Association expense. Many patios have also been replaced at Association expense. Now, 4 more balconies have been condemned and the Board has decided that the owners should pay for 1/2 the cost ($4,000.00). Even though the balcony is a "limited common element", because the nature of the problem is structural (failing steel and welds) and original construction, where does the responsibility lie? Should the owners vote on this? Balcony maintenance and repairs have always been part of the annual budget, although only in amounts to cover general cosmetic issues. (scraping and painting over rust mostly...)
Who pays, as these balconies continue to deteriorate?

**A: read your condo docs. If the balconies are considered limited common elements, then the HOA is totally responsible for the repair. The HOA should have a reserve study done as well as an engineering study of the entire building. And a reserve budget and repair plan in force. If the HOA does not have adequate funds to cover the repairs, then a special assessment is in order against ALL 192 unit owners. The HOA appears poorly managed.