Money, fines & collections

It is the most common charge in the life of a condominium: you pay your monthly maintenance fee after the due date—or the grace period—and the administration adds a fixed fee or a percentage for late payment. It is caused by oversights, changes in bank accounts, automatic payments that fail, or simply a difficult month. It happens very frequently: in large communities, dozens of owners receive this charge every month, and often the owner does not even find out until the balance has already grown. The typical pattern is a letter or statement with the charge repeated month after month because the payment continues to arrive "late" according to the administration's clock. Cases are resolved successfully when the owner proves the actual date of payment, asks for the breakdown of the calculation, and negotiates the removal of the charge as a courtesy, especially if their history was clean. On this page (free) we give you an overview of how these charges work and what kind of help exists. As a member of Mi Junta ($29 per month, a membership that covers ALL categories) you receive a complete analysis of your case, help drafting the letter requesting the reversal of the charge, references to the rules and laws applicable to your situation, and step-by-step guidance until the matter is closed.

The association can fine you for alleged rule violations: noise, pets, parking, objects on the balcony, and dozens of other causes. The typical problem is not the fine itself, but how it was imposed: without prior notice, without an opportunity to be heard, for amounts that repeat daily, or for rules that are not applied equally to everyone. It is one of the most frequent conflicts between owners and boards, because almost any behavior can become a "violation" if the administration decides so. Successful resolutions usually rely on demanding the correct procedure: written notification, details of the allegedly violated rule, a hearing when applicable, and real evidence of the conduct. On this page (free), we describe in general how the fine process works and what type of defense exists. As a member of Mi Junta ($29 per month, covers all categories), you receive an analysis of your notification, help drafting your response and hearing request, links to applicable rules and laws, and support at every step of the appeal.

When a debt with the association remains open, many management companies add monthly interest and additional surcharges to the balance, so a late fee can double over time. This is caused by a small initial balance that was never addressed: a late charge, a fine, or a difference of a few dollars that rolls over month after month. It is a frequent and silent problem: the owner pays their regular fee believing they are up to date, but their payment is applied first to old interest and never covers the principal. Successful resolutions are usually achieved by auditing the complete account statement, identifying duplicate charges or those computed on incorrect bases, and negotiating a payment plan that stops the accumulation. On this page (free), we explain in general terms how an arrearage grows and what review services we offer. As a member of Mi Junta ($29 per month, covers all categories), you receive a line-by-line audit of your account statement, help drafting the correction request and payment plan, links to applicable provisions, and ongoing support during the negotiation.

The monthly fee goes up—sometimes 10, 20, or 30 percent in a year—and the explanation is a brief circular that convinces no one. The increases are caused by more expensive insurance, new contracts, accumulated repairs, or poor planning, but the conflict stems from a lack of detail: owners suspect they are paying for the administration's inefficiency. It is one of the most frequent complaints in assemblies and neighborhood groups. Cases that end well usually succeed in getting the board to present the budget line by line, justify major contracts, and correct inflated or duplicate items. On this page (free), we provide general guidance on how a fee is composed and what questions to ask. As a member of Mi Junta ($29 per month, covers all categories), you receive help analyzing the budget, preparing questions and formal requests for information, links to regulations regarding budgets and assemblies, and support for bringing the issue to the owners' meeting.

A special assessment (derrama) is an extraordinary charge imposed by the board on all owners to cover a large expense: roof repair, repaving, a new elevator, or a reserve fund deficit. It is announced suddenly, sometimes for thousands of dollars per unit, and with short deadlines. It is common after hurricanes, structural damage, or years of excessively low fees. The typical pattern: owners find out through a circular, doubt the necessity of the expense, how their share was calculated, or whether the board followed the correct approval process. Cases are resolved well when the project budget, quotes, approval minutes, and the proration method are reviewed, and payment scheduling is negotiated. On this page (free), we offer general guidance on what an assessment is and what to review. As a member of Mi Junta ($29 per month, covers all categories), you receive help analyzing documentation, drafting requests for information and formal objections, links to the regulations governing these charges, and support throughout the entire process.

Some associations charge owners for utility items: water, special trash collection, gas, additional parking, or services supposedly consumed by your unit. Conflicts arise when the distribution method is opaque, when you are charged for another unit's consumption, or when a "retroactive adjustment" from months prior appears. This is a frequent claim in buildings where utilities are shared and prorated using formulas that no one explains. Owners who successfully resolve these cases request the calculation details, meter readings, or base invoices and compare them with previous periods until they find the error or the explanation. On this page (free), we describe in general how these charges are structured and what review we offer. As a member of Mi Junta ($29 per month, covers all categories), you receive help to reconstruct the calculation, draft the request for a breakdown and correction, links to applicable regulations, and support until the charge is clarified.

When an account is considered delinquent, the administration may refer it to a collections agency or a law firm, and suddenly your debt includes collection fees, legal fees, and costs that sometimes exceed the original debt. This is almost always caused by an old, unattended balance and poor communication. It is a frequent scenario in communities with aggressive administration: the owner stops receiving association statements and starts receiving calls and letters from a third party. Cases are best resolved when full validation of the debt is requested, the actual dues are separated from the added charges, and negotiations are conducted directly with clear information. On this page (free), we explain in general what changes when your account goes to collections and what help we offer. As a member of Mi Junta ($29 per month, covers all categories), you receive support to audit what is being claimed, draft the validation request and negotiation communications, links to applicable regulations, and continuous follow-up on your case.

The reserve fund is the money that the community sets aside for large future expenses. Disputes arise when the board uses the reserve for other purposes, when not enough is collected and a special assessment is then imposed, or when they refuse to show the status of the fund. This is caused by a lack of transparency: budgets summarized in a single line and evasive answers during meetings. It is a frequent topic among financially conscious owners, especially before selling or buying. Successful solutions involve exercising the right to review financial statements, the reserve study if one exists, and the minutes where the use of the fund was authorized. On this page (free), we offer a general explanation of what the reserve fund is and what type of analysis we perform. As a member of Mi Junta ($29 per month, covers all categories), you receive help with drafting document requests, interpreting financial statements, writing proposals for the meeting, links to applicable regulations, and ongoing support.

If the association alleges that you owe money, it may threaten to place a lien on your unit: a legal encumbrance on your title that complicates selling, refinancing, or inheriting the property. It usually arrives as a formal letter from the association's attorney after several months of an outstanding balance, sometimes for amounts the owner does not even recognize. It is less frequent than a late fee, but much more serious, and it generates great anxiety because it "sounds" like they are going to take your house away. The practical reality is that many liens are stopped or withdrawn when the debt is verified, statement errors are corrected, or a payment plan is signed. On this page (free) we offer a general explanation of what a lien is and what support services exist. As a member of Mi Junta ($29 per month, covers all categories) you receive help to verify the claimed debt, draft a response to the attorney's letter, links to applicable provisions, and step-by-step guidance until it is resolved.

In the most extreme cases, the association warns that it could foreclose on its lien and force the sale of the unit to collect the debt. It almost always starts with moderate amounts that grew with interest, fines, and fees over months or years of dispute. It is rare compared to other charges, but it is the highest-risk scenario for a homeowner and the one that requires the most professional guidance. The typical pattern includes increasingly formal letters, peremptory deadlines, and little willingness to negotiate if the owner reacts late or impulsively. Successful outcomes usually involve stopping the clock: verifying the debt, challenging improper charges, proposing a written payment plan, and documenting every communication. On this page (free), we provide a sober overview of the process and the services available. As a member of Mi Junta ($29 per month, covers all categories), you receive a detailed analysis of your file, help drafting every document, links to applicable laws and rules, and ongoing professional support.