An Osceola County condominium owner says a bedroom in her unit was stripped down to the studs, after a water leak that her attorney says she legally can’t fix.
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I had to trust that they would take care of it’: Condo owner still waiting on repairs by HOA |
The damage caused Citizens Insurance
to drop the owner’s policy last year, and now, within the
last month, the twin bedroom on her neighboring unit is
having the same issue.
“You put your trust in the association, that’s why you’re
paying your dues,” Morales-Cruz said.
Morales-Cruz’s attorney has put the Georgetown at
Celebration on notice, arguing that the association is
“violating its own declaration and Florida law” by “ignoring
its obligations to maintain, repair, and replace areas of
the building envelope and other common elements.”
“I’ve never seen something as bad as this, where an
association goes in, they do some caulking, they ultimately
remove an entire drywall, and just leave exposed, rotting
wood framing, for years,” attorney Nicolette Kramer said.
Kramer points out it’s as much of a health concern as it is
a safety issue. Morales-Cruz’ husband is bedridden in home
hospice care.
“I believe the association knows, the board knows, that it’s
responsible for the common elements, which includes the
wall, framing the sheathing the stucco on the outside, but
most importantly, the window framing,” Kramer said.
Now that similar issues have happened around two of the
property’s window frames, the owner says she’s worried about
the integrity of the building itself.
“I never expected something like this,” Morales-Cruz said.
We reached out by phone and email to the attorney
representing the Georgetown at Celebration condo
association, but we are still waiting to hear back.