u/Glittering-Purpose88

I own a condo in Washington State.
In September 2023, my HOA arranged a major roofing project for our building. During or shortly after the project, my unit suffered significant ceiling damage and water intrusion. I have dated photos documenting the initial damage.

The issue was acknowledged at the time, and repairs were performed a few months later. Unfortunately, the repairs did not fully resolve the problem. I later experienced additional water-related damage, window deformation, and eventually mold in the same area.

The most difficult part of this entire experience was trying to figure out who was actually responsible for resolving the problem.

There were several parties involved: 1) the HOA, 2)the property management company, 3)a company involved in managing/overseeing the construction project, and 4)the roofing contractor that performed the work.
As the homeowner whose unit was actually damaged, I repeatedly tried to get the problem resolved.

Instead, I felt like I was constantly being passed from one party to another. Everyone seemed to point me toward someone else, while the damage inside my unit remained unresolved.

Another complication was that I had no direct contract with the roofing contractor — the HOA did. At one point, the property management company instructed the contractor not to communicate directly with me because the HOA was the contracting party.
This put me in a very difficult position: the damage was inside my home, but I had no control over the contractors involved in the HOA’s project. At the same time, the parties who controlled those relationships were not resolving the problem.

Eventually, mold developed, and I had to pay out of pocket $7000 to address the mold and interior damage myself.

I previously sued the HOA in small claims court but was unsuccessful.

I am now pursuing claims against two of the companies that were directly involved with the construction project.

I have kept dated photos of the original damage, communications regarding the repairs, documentation concerning the project, later photos of the mold and other damage, and records of the expenses I paid myself.

The most annoying part was the HOA used this project as an excuse to inspect my whole condo and found out some code violations back 20 years ago. Several owners had this condo before and have never been inspected. And forced me to correct them.

I have also noticed that other units have washers and dryers. But I seem to be the one receiving enforcement.

When an HOA construction project damages an individual owner’s unit, how can the homeowner protect themselves when the HOA, property manager, project management company, and contractor keep passing responsibility to one another?

I need help!!

Bought a condo in Bellevue in 2021. Recently, my HOA said that alterations related to a previous washer/dryer installation were never approved and is asking me to correct them and allow another inspection.
I did not install the washer/dryer. My realtor checked historical MLS records and found that the system was already there before 2007, long before I owned the property. When the HOA previously inspected my unit, the washer and dryer had already been removed.

I have also noticed that other units have washers and dryers. But I seem to be the one receiving enforcement.

I previously had a dispute with the HOA over damage caused during a roofing project and took the matter to Small Claims Court. The HOA started pursuing this old alteration issue afterward.

I am Asian, so I am concerned about possible selective enforcement, retaliation, or discrimination.

This HOA / PM is a big problem. lack of transparency and project management. In my experience, I was never be able to obtain invoices, receipts, and other supporting records for HOA projects, and the management of some projects has appeared disorganized.

And if I ever have any repair requests, it took them at least several months to fix. I am surprised they have this much time and energy to actively chase after me on this. Instead of focusing on repairs and maintenance request.

My question is: Can an HOA assume a 20-year-old alteration was never approved simply because they cannot find the old approval records? Do they have the right to enter my home without my OK? And if other units have similar alterations but are not being cited, could this be selective enforcement?

I need help!!

Bought a condo in Bellevue in 2021. Recently, my HOA said that alterations related to a previous washer/dryer installation were never approved and is asking me to correct them and allow another inspection.
I did not install the washer/dryer. My realtor checked historical MLS records and found that the system was already there before 2007, long before I owned the property. When the HOA previously inspected my unit, the washer and dryer had already been removed.

I have also noticed that other units have washers and dryers. But I seem to be the one receiving enforcement.

I previously had a dispute with the HOA over damage caused during a roofing project and took the matter to Small Claims Court. The HOA started pursuing this old alteration issue afterward.

I am Asian, so I am concerned about possible selective enforcement, retaliation, or discrimination.

This HOA / PM is a big problem. lack of transparency and project management. In my experience, I was never be able to obtain invoices, receipts, and other supporting records for HOA projects, and the management of some projects has appeared disorganized.

And if I ever have any repair requests, it took them at least several months to fix. I am surprised they have this much time and energy to actively chase after me on this. Instead of focusing on repairs and maintenance request.

My question is: Can an HOA assume a 20-year-old alteration was never approved simply because they cannot find the old approval records? Do they have the right to enter my home without my OK? And if other units have similar alterations but are not being cited, could this be selective enforcement?
Has anyone in Washington dealt with something similar?