[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by trueimage

Just wondering if anyone had any advice on how to deal with this, and what is my responsibility and what is theirs?

I was out of the country on vacation and there was a leak in my unit that was leaking into the unit below. The condo board tried to call me several times and then got a locksmith and plumber to access my unit. They are saying that I am responsible for all charges including all damages as well as the locksmith and plumber.

My questions are:

1. Is it not the condo board's responsibility to ask me for a copy of my key for these situations, and since they didn't, they are responsible to pay the locksmith?
Absolutely not. besides would you really want the condo board having a key to every unit? If a locksmith was required, it might be covred by either the condo's or your insurance.

2. All I know about the leak is that it was "from a bathroom sink". This sink doesn't even have a tap on it as the handle broke and it was removed and not yet replaced. If the tap wasn't left on, and the leak came from a pipe in the wall, then isn't that their responsibility or at least joint? Again to pay for the plumber fees or not.
You'll have to check the bylaws on this one. But I would assume that most stuff like this is covered under the condo's insurance. If it isn't I'd assume you are required to have insurance for this type of thing, otherwise they run the risk of having an attached unit get damaged, and no one able to pay for it.

3. What damages am I responsible for?
Read the bylaws. It's entirely possible you're not responsible for anything.

Thanks

As a member of my condo board, I can tell you that often times the people on the board won't know exactly what the rules are.
That being said I've put some comments in bold above.
I assume you have a management company who works for the condo board, and if so get a hold of them, they'll know for sure what is covered by the condo's insurance and what yours will be reponsible for.