Condo Association Management Blog

Were the policeman and the board member there WHILE she was hearing it? If so, it does sound like there is something else amiss. Ask yourself as a Board Member, what else could the Board do to investigate and or problem solve? If there is nothing else that seems reasonable, a letter to her telling her of your investigation and findings should fulfill you of your obligation to the owner.

I like that you answer involves the Board "asking if there is anything else they can do." How smart and humane is that. My board and property manage do everything they can to avoid satisfying unit owners maintenance problems. I recently had dark brownish water comming into my Jacuzzi for 6 days and while the plumber checked it out on the 5th day because he happened to be here, the managers first line of defense was to tell me to clean my Jacuzzi and filter (it has none) and check with my plumber to make sure no black pipes or gaskets were used. I live in a high rise and all code plumbing (mine is new) is now done with PVC, which is white. Does anyone know if I have a recourse? 
 
Also in the summer I had a $5000 black tie service 65th BD party for husband, it was an oldies/gambling party, brought in dealers,roulette,craps, etc and by 8:30 the electricity in our social room blew out the breaker controlling the music and all recepticals and lights along the walls. WE were un able to have coffee at the end of the night as well, 45 people were there. This was an ongoing problem that was not maintenance or repaired AND no one would allow us to flip the breaker and our 24 hour doorman was not trained and property manager who lives 10 minutes away refused to fx it. The next week they fixed the electric. 
 
Anyone think I have any recourse?

This is a sticky one. I would say that the only other option to fix the alledged noise would be to have some sort of sound engineer come to the property when she hears these noises. They would have acustic equipment that would be able to test for sounds outside of a normal person's audible range. Honestly, I doubt I would go that far if I were the board member. I would likely make her the offer that we (the board) haven't heard anything and the policeman didn't hear anything; therefore, if the sound turns up on the acustic equipment and it's the fault of the COA, I'd be willing to pay for the test. Otherwise, I'd make her pay. The other issue is that even if the noise is there that she can hear because she half dog, then it would have to be related to being the association's responsibility before I fixed it. For example, if the pool pump that the association is responsible for was making the noise that only she could hear, I'd likely be willing to fix it. If it's the fact that her condo is located at the end of a runway, I'm not sure I'd fix that. 
 
Karen, the only recourse I could see for the black tie event would be any loss coverage you have in your rental contract. I assume you rented the space for 45 and signed a contract with the owner. Read that contract because it may have something in there about services the manager is supposed to provide. If they didn't and yo suffered a loss, I'd sue them for the loss incurred. Otherwise, if they simply let you use the space as a unit owner, I think you're out of luck. With respect to the plumbing issue, I assume that you were not the only one to complain about the 6 days of mud in the pipe, if you weren't then one would have to ascertain what happened and who was at fault. Generally, those things occur when someone, somewhere is fixing a water pipe and the banging on the pipes knocks loose sediment that's in the piping. There's no recourse for that, those fall under the category "stuff happens." 
 
Darron 
 
HOA Receivables Management

With regard to the noise..... 
 
I normally request that the individuals put the problem in writing. After that we investigate. I have ran into a situation where the noise was actually coming from the tv and any LCD TV....and the guy friend of the owner who flew helicopters with deafening sound was the only person who could hear it. 
 
I would of course investigate any community mechanical components nearby that could be creating the noise, as well as any illegally installed washers, dryers or other equipment in units nearby. 
 
Sometimes illegal / strong wireless antennas can cause feedback through regular home electronics.  
 
A good way to find out if there are any involved is put up a notice that the association will be inspecting apartments for hard wired smoke detectors...then go door to do and look for any equipment out of ordinary.

Just want to say thanks to all who responded to this awkward problem. You have given me much needed ideas to go forward with. Now, to find that sound engineer...!

Notice this particular sentence "but she told them last year there was nothing physically wrong with her." 
 
Did she really check with doctor? Especially ear specialist, because looks like the case of tinnitus to me.