Does anyone know what happens when you buy a condo from a ‘bad seed’ building developer / manager / seller?

I can tell you that there are many sleepless nights and many nightmares. I can also tell you that there is a real possibility that this will affect your job and the threat that you could lose your home. There is also the fear of being contaminated by sewage or mold … and the possibility of serious retaliation from this guy or his cronies.

THE SCENARIO: WHAT IF YOU BUY THE CONDO? Let’s say you just bought a condo in a multi-unit building. During the process, the seller was charming and seemed to share his ideals about maintaining the property and fostering a sense of community with the other condo owners and neighbors.

During the final closing transaction to purchase your condo, you sign the document containing the Condo Trust Rules with every intention of following them. And while they are a bit strict, you feel a sense of security knowing that other condo owners and neighbors will also be obligated to make sure this building is quiet, clean, and respectable.

You asked a lot of questions; and feels good about the Seller’s seemingly strong values. You feel like you have found a home.

FROM THE PHOTO ROSY TO THE HOSTILE SITUATION. Now let’s say that the seller is also the developer of the building and a manager of the condominium; and you start to notice that he doesn’t take your questions about the property kindly once you’ve bought the condo. Now he gets a little pushy if you want to talk to him about a concern or observation about the property.

When you get your first ‘red flag’ moment from this guy, you may think, “Uh huh. You better keep an eye on this person. Maybe he’ll stretch the truth and take shortcuts a bit.”

What if, after a few months of living in your new home, incidents with the developer / building manager start to pile up? What if you notice that this guy seems to be somewhat negligent, indifferent, or irresponsible?

What if you find out he’s not a man of his word? Who is ignoring your concerns, not taking action in potentially serious situations, and not intending to maintain the building in a professional manner?

Since he and his family are the trustees, he doesn’t seem in a rush to do what you ask him to do. When does it start to affect you? What if your negligence and attitude damage your property’s value, erode your feelings of security, and put you at risk for serious trouble?

Let me share some of my nightmare situations: (Feel free to share yours with me too).

1) Plumbing and sewage overflows

2) Exposure to secondhand smoke

3) Insect infestations

4) Excessive noise and violence from rental tenants

5) Safety concerns and retaliation

6) Ongoing violations of the condo trust rule

7) Condo fees and budget deficit

8) Building and property maintenance issues

9) Deceptive sales practices

1. PLUMBING AND RUGGING OF WASTEWATER.

– Constant concern about contamination

– Fear of pets getting sick

– Experiencing isolation because friends no longer visit frequently

– Becoming almost “OCD” (compulsive) Trying to keep up with episodes of raw sewage

– Condo was actually condemned in summer 2009

– The pets and I were homeless for several days

– Untreated sewage discharged from my bathtub, toilet, and dishwasher

– Having recurring dreams / nightmares about the arrival of sewage, etc.

SUMMARY: I purchased a condo in East Boston at the end of July 2007. I had repeatedly asked if there were any plumbing or water issues with the building or condo before purchasing it; and they told me repeatedly that there were none. A month after moving in, I had my first untreated sewer episode. Sewage overflowed from my new bathtub, toilet, and dishwasher for hours, until overnight. Only then did the Building Developer / Trustee / Salesperson tell me that the building’s previous owner had used a machine that was in front of what is now my condo every two weeks to blow out the pipes, and had had a plumber install one for him. new. pipeline once I bought the place (without the proper permits, I found out later).

For the next two years, I had to deal with the fear and consequences of intermittent incidents of raw sewage, including fear of contamination and illness for myself and my pets. They told me I had all the problems because my condo was the lowest in the building. This guy wouldn’t take the proper action, even after the Boston plumbing inspector told him it was his responsibility (in 2008). In late June 2009, I experienced a two-day untreated sewage overflow that left my pets and me virtually homeless for several days, also leaving my condo (and adjoining apartment) doomed by the city of Boston until a professional cleaning crew was able to disinfect it.

2. EXPOSURE TO SECOND HAND SMOKE.

– Secondhand smoke poured into kitchen constantly from adjoining rental tenant

– House smelled of dirty and moldy smoke

– Constantly awake with a sore throat

– Dear Pet Diagnosed with Nasal Lymphoma (Research Says Nasal Lymphoma in Pets is Made Worse by Secondhand Smoke)

– Condominiums do not have firewalls between units

SUMMARY: After experiencing secondhand smoke pouring through my kitchen and affecting all areas of my small condo for a year, I hired a home inspector who discovered that there is no firewall between adjoining units. The Developer / Trustee would do nothing to fix the situation, even though it was his rental unit. It turned out that the Developer / Trustee knew that his rental tenant was also smoking marijuana in that apartment. So, he was getting secondhand smoke from cigarettes, marijuana, and incense.

In 2009, my beloved pet was diagnosed with nasal lymphoma. It cost me my 401k and my savings to treat his illness. Months were spent going back and forth with my howler cat for blood tests and chemotherapy before he recovered. He has suffered a lot and it disgusts me that we have to continue living in this place.

The only reason the smoke finally ceased was because the rental tenant moved out after their home was also condemned after last summer’s two-day raw sewage overflow.

3. INSECT INFESTATIONS.

– After each episode of sewage, insects would appear (silverfish, ants, drain flies)

– The building developer / manager allowed his friend to hang meat on his balcony

– Experienced disproportionate number of ant infestations

– The building has not received insect treatments, except for what I paid

– With recent bed bug concerns across the board, developer / admin would allow people to dispose of old mattresses in the common storage room

4. EXCESSIVE NOISE AND VIOLENCE FROM RENTAL TENANTS.

– The developer / trustee will not enforce the condominium trust rules, which include having rental tenants in the leases and abiding by the condominium rules.

– Various rental tenants have brought excessive noise and violence into the building

– Constantly awakened by neighbors upstairs – For two and a half years

– Subwoofer used by former tenants

– You experience headaches due to repeated jumping, bumping and falling of objects from upstairs neighbors

5. SAFETY CONCERNS AND RETALIATION.

– Upstairs neighbor threatened to kill me if I knocked on the door again

– Former tenants became violent outside my door due to other neighbors complaining about their music / noise

– Developer / Trustee clenched his fist in a hostile gesture saying “I know you’ve been doing detective work” and “Be careful.”

– Four tires were damaged after expressing problems related to the condo

– The developer / trustee tells me not to speak to any of the contractors on the property

– The developer / trustee warned me that I would be making “10 enemies” if I go ahead with any lawsuit

6. CONTINUING VIOLATIONS OF THE CONDO TRUST RULES.

– Loud noises and music

– Violations of balconies and monstrosities

– Obstructions in hallways / common areas

– There are no lease agreements or building rules for rental tenants, as provided by the condo trust rules

– Etc.

7. CONDO RATES AND BUDGET DEFICITS.

– The developer / manager increased the condo fees by 50% for 2009.

– The developer / trustee will not provide financial ledgers, although I have the legal right to view / copy them

– The developer / trustee told me multiple times that “no one” pays the condo fees (except me) and that he incurred expensive bank fees due to lack of funds

– The developer / trustee will not provide proof of budget and expenses

8. BUILDING AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS.

– Lack of permits

– The fire alarm box went off almost every day

– Until inspectors finally summoned the developer / trustee, there were large holes in the ceiling of the boiler rooms and laundries, which was a Fire Code hazard

– Inconsistent snow removal

– The building developer / manager took down the fence, which now allows intruders to enter our property, and it is an eyesore

– For two years or more, common area bedrooms contained discarded mattresses, equipment and baby carriages, entry locks, and meters.

9. DECEPTIVE SALES PRACTICES.

– The real estate agent was vague and acted as if he was my agent when I was buying a condo (turned out to be a friend of the developer / manager)

– Developer / Trustee / Seller agreed to pay closing costs and reneged

– Developer / Trustee / Seller and real estate agent lied about plumbing issues (I was not told that major plumbing repairs were done without permits before purchasing the condo)