Excel-free plates and crowds at the entrance: meeting of tenants of an apartment building in the USA

Moving into your own apartment is not only a joyful chore, but also an opportunity to learn about the rules of cohabitation in the United States and how neighbors communicate.

Фото: Depositphotos

Traditionally, Americans prefer private homes. However, due to the growing population of megacities and the rise in prices for housing after the 2008-2009 crisis, America’s traditional division of the city into a downtown and residential areas (suburbs) is not as sharp. Apartments are no longer exclusively housing for low-income and more and more middle-class Americans prefer to live in a small area within the city, whose population is growing rapidly, writes Oksana Bedratenko for VOA.

- I don’t understand, is it so difficult to provide reporting figures: income - expenses?! - says an energetic middle-aged woman.

“We are guided by the current rules,” the chairwoman answers.

“I have a question,” the elderly man, who had been silent until then, extends his hand. - Let's not deviate from the agenda!

“I am 100% on your side,” confirms the chairwoman and quickly begins to read: “Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting, changes in house rules, changes in payment rules...”.

“After all, Martha seems to imply expense figures,” enters a younger man, who had previously been studying with a pencil the new house rules sent out by the board.

I heard this conversation at a meeting of the association of co-owners of an apartment building in the suburbs of Washington, the American capital, but he very much reminded me of conversations at a meeting of condominiums (co-owners of an apartment building) in one of the Kiev arrays in which I participated.

On the subject: Apartment buildings in America: what is worth knowing

I was lucky to live in one of the few apartment buildings in a quiet area of ​​the Washington suburbs. We moved to a new apartment not so long ago, but immediately felt like a part of society. Neighbors received us very friendly, sometimes, in my opinion, too. When we moved and moved things, a neighbor ran out to us, opened the doors for us and noticed that she saw us through the window of her apartment and went out to help us hold the door.

Moreover, I was interested to see how the meetings of the Home Owners Association, an analogue of the Ukrainian condominium association, take place, because pipes, garbage, and surrounding areas are troublesome issues that affect everyone and can ruin relationships even between the nicest people. Here are some things that caught my attention at the first meeting of the American Housing Association.

Why OSMD church?

A small thing that actually weighs not so little is the question of where to hold meetings. In Kyiv they usually took place at the entrance. In Washington, I had to re-read the announcements twice because I didn’t immediately understand where exactly the meeting would be held - in a local church. The priest left for the condominium association the keys to the church room near the prayer hall, where Sunday school classes are usually held. A cozy, clean room creates a good atmosphere. Also important, especially for older participants, is the opportunity to sit.

Фото: Depositphotos

We start with a positive

Even at the condominium association meeting, I was once again convinced that positive thinking, optimism, and an attitude for the best are truly part of American culture. And what could be more pleasant for an apartment owner than to hear once again how wisely he acted in purchasing a home in this particular building? The board report that started the meeting was primarily about positive information. The chairperson cited figures: the market price per square meter of a similar apartment, growth trends, rental prices for similar apartments in the area.

“I feel good,” summed up one of the participants.

More trust - less reporting

The reporting of the condominium associations itself was not organized as quickly and clearly as in Kyiv, where we received a detailed report on all cash flows for the current period. Here the main amounts - income, expenses, reserve for the year - were indicated in the minutes of the meeting, and these three figures for last year were announced to us, promising to provide the data promptly to those who want to receive it. There was no mention of current figures. I was a little homesick for the Excel spreadsheets that we had in Kharkovsky (a residential area of ​​Kyiv - editor's note).

On the subject: Why more Americans are renting housing in apartment complexes

Insurers, lawyers - others are not superfluous in managing a house

Smaller accountability to residents is compensated for the association with regular reports to policyholders, negotiations with service organizations.

The association closely monitors that its rating with the insurance company is high - at the level of triple A. To ensure this rating and reduce payments for insurance, the association constantly maintains contact with policyholders and explains in lengthy letters what work is being carried out so that there are no problems with the content Houses.

Insurers are also responsible for major repairs. So, during the meeting, residents were advised to check whether we have coverage in the insurance agreement in case of “loss of access to services”, so that the insurance company will pay for rent if the house is subject to major repairs.

Communication with service organizations is a separate hassle. For example, if a private trash removal company only has to pick up household waste, it will take photographs of the large items that are thrown out and issue a separate bill for picking them up.

Фото: Depositphotos

Arguing with condominiums in the USA is an expensive pleasure, both for the one who argues and for other residents of the house, because dispute resolution occurs through lawyers with whom the condominium has a contract and whose services are paid from the general funds for the maintenance of the house.

Yet costly legal services do not stop Americans from arguing with the association on issues that often start with domestic trifles, but can turn into big legal cases. From the history of such disputes: A resident of Bowie, Maryland, spent 33 000 dollars on lawyers in the 1992 case of the year to prove that the co-owner association’s requirement to purchase all the same mailboxes in 500 dollars is unfair. In 1992, Jeffrey DeMarco went bankrupt and was forced to sell his house because of the cost of legal services at 70 000 dollars in a dispute with an association that argued that too many rose bushes had been planted on its site.

The rules in the US are more stable and their compliance is based on a legal system with a long tradition, but living in a house cannot be insured against abnormal situations, since it’s about everyday life and completely different people.

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