A condo association or homeowner’s association (HOA) can, like any governing body, be a positive force in the lives of the property owners it represents, or a negative one. The Internet is filled with horror stories from owners who have seen poorly-run condo boards or HOAs make their lives miserable with the creation and enforcement of petty rules, but of course many people create their own condo association disputes in Cook County by not actually reading the Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&R) they signed when purchasing the property. When you sign a CC&R, you are agreeing to abide by the rules set out in the document, and many people are surprised to discover how much of their daily lives is covered by these agreements.
The Good News
While it can often seem like disputes between owners and condo associations are always about the association trying to control owner behavior and property use, the fact is the CC&R also lays out the responsibilities of the association, and it works both ways: The owner can bring disputes against the association as well.
This might involve mediation or arbitration, or might require litigation. Whatever the remedy, an experienced and knowledgeable attorney will be the key to success. A CC&R is a legal document, a contract, and an attorney versed in the law as well as alternative dispute resolution techniques will give you the complete arsenal of options for quickly resolving the dispute equitably.