Condo Q&A

Can condo board mandate where owners buy replacement windows?

Written by stephen polinsky | Thu, Jan 27, 2011 @ 01:12 PM

I live in a condo in Illinois that is governed under the Illinois Condo Act. The windows in our units are the owners responsibility to maintain and cost of maintenance, repair and replacement are the homeowners responsibility. The bylaws of our condo association specify the windows must look the same as all other units and be white vinyl clad on the exterior. Our board has recently issued a mandate to the homeowners that replacement windows can only be obtained through a pre-selected vendor thus limiting our right to “shop around” for price. My question: Since the windows are the owner’s property, can the board mandate who we use to replace the windows?