I had only vaguely heard of condexes but never realized the full situation until I heard a coworker complaining today about the issues he is dealing with. Apparently, this sort of housing is somewhat common here in New England. My coworker's home is a 2 family side by side unit structure but where each resident actually owns a portion. At first I didnt see much issue, sounds like a condo to me. But he continues to explain that there is no governing body, no HoA or board to handle the common property. So how are issues that impact both properties managed? An organized formal contract that would do HoA type functions is rare for these types of properties. Usually it is through a handshake agreement between the two. Some issues coworker has had to deal with.
-Roof for entire structure needed to be replaced. Neighbor and coworker disagree about which roofer to do the work. Therefore each get their own roofer to do their half. Building now looks ugly due to color and quality differences in shingles. Each side's work terminates at a halfway point on the roof.
-Shared septic tank for both units. Septic is failing and leach field is partially blocked. As a result, they get their tank pumped out multiple times a year since it cant drain normally. Neighbor stiffed the septic company on her half of the bill. So my coworker paid entire thing to ensure the account stays in good standing and they keep coming to do the service. Also if not pumped out, systems backs up into the structure, into the neighbor's unit though, not coworker's due to grading/piping etc... Neighbor sought to recover damages from coworker since the septic is his partial responsibility. Coworker wants to put in his own septic but town wont approve 2 septic systems on one plot of land meaning they will continue to share this one. Neighbor claims has no money for septic replacement.
-Neighbors dont mow their side of lawn with junk and abandoned cars on their side of property. Refuse to help with snowplowing on common driveway. There is one common piece of lawn in front of both units they do not take care of. Instead coworker takes care of that portion. He paid to reseed the lawn there which ultimately failed since neighbor continues to park her cars on top of it.
-Houses share a common wall (side by side units in 1 structure) and coworker is privy to all kinds of fighting, noises etc...
-Neighbor has recently died and has no heirs or next of kin. All eligible family is either in prison or too far away. Neighbor has been dead for almost 2 years and in mean time her half of structure is falling apart from neglect. Her house is tied up in either probate or the courts while they decide the final disposition of her assets. Coworker cannot hope to sell his place for any meaningful sum of money with the other half looking like a slum.
Holy crap, what a bad situation. The disorganization and stubbornness on the part of one owner can delay and derail any attempt to repair and improve the property as a whole. Part of me wants to ask him what he was thinking when he signed the dotted line to buy the place? The only way I would buy such a place is if I owned the entire thing. Are these condexes common in other parts of the country?
-Roof for entire structure needed to be replaced. Neighbor and coworker disagree about which roofer to do the work. Therefore each get their own roofer to do their half. Building now looks ugly due to color and quality differences in shingles. Each side's work terminates at a halfway point on the roof.
-Shared septic tank for both units. Septic is failing and leach field is partially blocked. As a result, they get their tank pumped out multiple times a year since it cant drain normally. Neighbor stiffed the septic company on her half of the bill. So my coworker paid entire thing to ensure the account stays in good standing and they keep coming to do the service. Also if not pumped out, systems backs up into the structure, into the neighbor's unit though, not coworker's due to grading/piping etc... Neighbor sought to recover damages from coworker since the septic is his partial responsibility. Coworker wants to put in his own septic but town wont approve 2 septic systems on one plot of land meaning they will continue to share this one. Neighbor claims has no money for septic replacement.
-Neighbors dont mow their side of lawn with junk and abandoned cars on their side of property. Refuse to help with snowplowing on common driveway. There is one common piece of lawn in front of both units they do not take care of. Instead coworker takes care of that portion. He paid to reseed the lawn there which ultimately failed since neighbor continues to park her cars on top of it.
-Houses share a common wall (side by side units in 1 structure) and coworker is privy to all kinds of fighting, noises etc...
-Neighbor has recently died and has no heirs or next of kin. All eligible family is either in prison or too far away. Neighbor has been dead for almost 2 years and in mean time her half of structure is falling apart from neglect. Her house is tied up in either probate or the courts while they decide the final disposition of her assets. Coworker cannot hope to sell his place for any meaningful sum of money with the other half looking like a slum.
Holy crap, what a bad situation. The disorganization and stubbornness on the part of one owner can delay and derail any attempt to repair and improve the property as a whole. Part of me wants to ask him what he was thinking when he signed the dotted line to buy the place? The only way I would buy such a place is if I owned the entire thing. Are these condexes common in other parts of the country?
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