Condominium and Cooperative Law in Pennsylvania

Co-ops and condo communities are forms of "common interest communities."

This is a type of community in which the individual residents rent or own residential units in a building, or collection of buildings, but are collectively accountable for taking maintaining the common areas in their communities, such as lawns, gardens, swimming pools, and the like. This responsibility is typically taken care of by charging the residents a periodic maintenance fee, to pay for the upkeep of the common areas.

Merely viewing one of these communities from the outside (or inside) will not let you discern whether it's a cooperative or condominium community.

There are no physical features distinct to either one, which can be used to distinguish them. Rather, the difference lies in the legal arrangement that regulates the relationships between the residents and managers. In condominium communities, the residents own the units they live in, and collectively own the land and buildings in which they are located. In a cooperative community, the units are rented, and are owned by a single entity.

Laws and Regulations Concerning Common Interest Communities in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

Various Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania laws affect common-interest communities. However, almost all of these laws govern real estate more generally, and there are very few laws written particularly for common interest communities. Such generally-applicable laws include zoning regulations, contracts, and the relations between landlords and tenants.

The daily lives of residents, and what they are and aren't allowed to do in their residences, will be far more heavily impacted by rules and regulations that the homeowner's association, or the owner of the land, has imposed.

The manager or owner of the land on which your residence is located will likely have a lot of rules concerning what can and cannot be done in and near the houses. These rules typically mandate cleanliness, keeping noise to a minimum, and regulate the presence of pets.

This authority, however, has limits. There are some rules which landowners cannot impose. Most obviously, they can't bar people from renting or buying units based on their race, religion, or national origin in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. This conduct is illegal under state and federal law, and can result in grave civil penalties.

Can a Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania Attorney Help?

If you are in a dispute with your homeowners' association, a neighbor, or your landlord in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, a reliable real estate lawyer may prove extremely helpful, if the dispute cannot be otherwise resolved.