Howard Dakoff

Howard Dakoff is a freelance writer for the Chicago Tribune.

A condo association can restrict the smoking of cannabis in condominiums, but not consumption by other means.

Resident wants to prohibit pot smoke in building after recreational marijuana becomes legal

July 3, 2019 at 3:55 p.m.

Q. I live in a condominium association and just learned that the use of recreational marijuana will be legal in Illinois starting Jan. 1. Aside from public policy concerns, I...

The Condominium Act gives the board access to units under certain conditions, but reasonable notice is required for nonemergency situations.

Association staff’s access to unit is invasion of privacy, resident says

June 7, 2019 at 7:53 p.m.

Q. I am a unit owner in a high-rise condominium association that is professionally managed. I am concerned about the issue of the association's engineer entering my unit when it...

In the case of the water damage claim from a common element water pipe, the customary practice for condominium associations is to pay the insurance deductible as a common expense.

Association should pay deductible when common element water pipe bursts, but affected units can be charged instead

May 20, 2019 at 2:06 p.m.

Q. Due to the polar vortex, a common element pipe in our five-unit condominium association burst causing water damage in two of the five units. Regarding assessing the insurance deductible...

Although the board president can suggest revisions to a secretary's meeting minutes, the remaining members of the board could reject the board president's revisions and approve the board meeting minutes as drafted.

Condo board president deletes parts of secretary’s meeting minutes

May 20, 2019 at 2:04 p.m.

Q. I am the secretary of a condominium board. When I draft the board meeting minutes, I include the appropriate board actions, but also describe board discussions for those unit...

If a unit owner is using his remote key locking/unlocking mechanism to cause multiple horn beeps each and every time, such conduct may rise to the level of unreasonable noise.

Condo board can fine resident over repeated noise from car horn beeps

May 20, 2019 at 2:02 p.m.

Q. I am a board president of a small condominium association and we are experiencing a noise issue in our community, specifically the honking of car horns when locking and...

Customarily, the cost for maintenance, repair and replacement of limited common elements, such as balconies, is a unit owner expense.

Who should pay for repair of building’s balconies?

May 20, 2019 at 2:01 p.m.

Q. Since 1979, I have lived in a condominium association and our association has paid for the maintenance and repair of limited common element balconies as a common expense. Recently,...

What to do about noisy upstairs neighbors

May 20, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.

Q. I purchased a condominium three months ago. After three months of quiet, apparently due to the above tenants being out of the country, we have started to hear significant...

Compensation of condominium directors is rare.

Can director be paid for condo board service?

May 20, 2019 at 1:58 p.m.

Q. I live in a six-unit, self-managed condominium association. The board president is considering taking on extra responsibilities to basically manage our association on the condition he will be paid....

When concrete garage repairs are required, or even power washing, a condo board has the authority to require all cars be removed from the garage.

Condo board has authority to require removal of cars from garage for repairs

May 20, 2019 at 1:56 p.m.

Q. I live in a condominium association with a common element parking garage and limited common element parking spaces. Our board has decided to close the garage for seven days...

A board of directors is obligated to maintain, repair and replace common elements, which includes keeping exterior walls and foundations from allowing water infiltration into units.

Condo board’s refusal to address water infiltration into unit is a breach of fiduciary duty

May 20, 2019 at 1:55 p.m.

Q. I am an owner of a condominium unit in a self-managed association. Approximately two months ago, I discovered mold behind my drywall abutting an exterior wall. I removed the...

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