Your unit & modifications

You want to remodel your kitchen, change the flooring, or enclose a terrace, and the architectural committee denies your request—or never responds. Denials are often triggered by vague aesthetic criteria ("it doesn't harmonize"), incomplete documentation, or inconsistent precedents: your neighbor was approved for the exact same thing. This is a very common conflict because almost every visible improvement requires prior approval. Owners who resolve this successfully submit a complete application with plans and materials, request the denial in writing with the specific rule applied, compare it with previous approvals, and appeal to the board with that file. On this page (free), we offer general guidance on how architectural approval works. As a member of Mi Junta ($29 per month, covers all categories), you receive help preparing your application, drafting the appeal with precedents, links to applicable rules, and support throughout the entire process.

The balcony is your favorite space and also the most fined: "excessive" plants, unauthorized furniture, bicycles, clotheslines, grills, lights, or outdoor curtains generate constant notices. This happens because the balcony is visible from the street and the rules seek visual uniformity. It is one of the most frequent conflicts in apartment buildings. Cases are resolved well by reviewing the exact list of what is prohibited (many fines cite rules that do not say what the administration claims), adjusting what is clearly prohibited, and defending what the rule does not cover. On this page (free), we summarize in general what these rules usually regulate. As a member of Mi Junta ($29 per month, covers all categories), you receive an article-by-article analysis of your notice, help drafting your response, links to the applicable rules, and support until the case is closed.

Painting a different color, changing the front door, installing lattices, awnings, or a fence: everything visible from the outside is usually regulated, and doing so without permission leads to fines and orders to revert the work at your own expense. It is common for the owner to be unaware of the rule or for the administration to interpret "facade" in an increasingly broad way. Favorable resolutions distinguish between maintenance (permitted) and modification (regulated), verify if the invoked rule exists in the current documents, and negotiate retroactive approvals when the change is reasonable and uniform with the surroundings. On this page (free), we provide an overview of what a facade rule typically regulates. As a member of Mi Junta ($29 per month, covers all categories), you receive an analysis of your modification, help drafting the approval or regularization request, links to the applicable provisions, and step-by-step support.

Remodeling an interior also has rules: prior permit, refundable deposit, strict schedules for contractors, reserved use of the freight elevator, and "supervision" fees. Many owners discover this halfway through the project, when management stops the contractor at the door. It is a frequent conflict in high-rise buildings. Orderly resolutions start with completing the paperwork from the beginning, demanding a breakdown of any fees, and documenting the condition of common areas before and after to recover the full deposit. On this page (free), we offer general guidance on these procedures. As a member of Mi Junta ($29 per month, covers all categories), you receive help preparing the permit package, challenging non-itemized fees, claiming the return of deposits, links to applicable regulations, and support throughout the entire project.

The community requires that everything visible from the street be white or made of an approved material: colored curtains, different blinds, or heat tints become a violation. It is a frequent conflict in warm climates, where tint and thermal curtains are a practical necessity, not a whim. Successful resolutions verify if the rule limits only what is visible from the outside, explore equivalent approved options (white linings, tints within the permitted range), and document special needs when they exist. On this page (free), we offer general guidance on this type of rule. As a member of Mi Junta ($29 per month, covers all categories), you receive an analysis of the rule applied to your window, help drafting approval or exception requests, links to applicable provisions, and ongoing support.

You install a video doorbell or a camera at your door to protect your packages and your family, and the management orders its removal due to privacy concerns or "facade modification." It is an increasingly frequent conflict, as these devices are now standard in modern life. Successful resolutions distinguish between cameras that record common areas (generally accepted) and angles that invade the privacy of a specific neighbor, by adjusting orientation and recording settings. On this page (free), we summarize the most common points of friction in general. As a member of Mi Junta ($29 per month, covers all categories), you receive an analysis of your case, help drafting your response and any approval requests, links to applicable regulations, and step-by-step support.

You install your satellite dish or antenna and then receive an order to remove it for "affecting the facade." It is a classic and frequent conflict, because internal aesthetic rules coexist with protections that, in many jurisdictions, limit what an association can prohibit regarding signal reception. The result depends heavily on the exact location of the installation, the size, and what your community documents state. Favorable resolutions often explore alternative locations within your exclusive area (balcony, patio) and require that any restriction be applied in a reasonable and documented manner. On this page (free), we provide an overview of the conflict between aesthetics and signal reception. As a member of Mi Junta ($29 per month, covers all categories), you receive an analysis of your specific installation, help drafting a response to the removal order, links to applicable rules and provisions, and full support.

You want to install solar panels to lower your electricity bill, but the board denies it, conditions it on nearly impossible requirements, or never resolves your request. This is an increasingly frequent conflict as energy costs rise and more owners seek alternatives. Denials are often based on general aesthetic criteria without evaluating the specific technical proposal. Successful resolutions present a complete project (installer, plans, location), request written and substantiated decisions, and in many jurisdictions, rely on regulations that limit absolute bans on solar energy. On this page (free), we offer a general explanation of how these requests are processed. As a member of Mi Junta ($29 per month, covers all categories), you receive help structuring your proposal, drafting the request and any appeals, links to applicable provisions, and support throughout the entire process.

You buy an electric vehicle and discover there is nowhere to charge it: the community has no stations, does not allow you to install a charger in your space, or imposes costly conditions. It is a new but rapidly growing conflict, especially where parking is common and electrical infrastructure is old. Realistic resolutions include proposals where the owner assumes the costs of installation and consumption with separate metering, the use of pilot spaces, and written agreements regarding maintenance and future removal. On this page (free), we provide general guidance on typical options. As a member of Mi Junta ($29 per month, covers all categories), you receive help preparing the technical and economic proposal, drafting the formal request to the board, links to applicable regulations, and support during negotiations.