Condominium and Cooperative Law in Pennsylvania
Co-ops and condo communities are forms of "common interest communities."
They are communities where each individual or family resident rents or owns an unit which is part of a larger building, containing other, similar, residential units. The residents are accountable responsible for the maintenance of the common areas of their living areas, such as gardens, walkways, lawns, and swimming pools. They usually meet this responsibility by paying a monthly fee to support this maintenance.
Just looking at the physical structure of a condominium or cooperative community, it would be nearly impossible to tell which is which.
This is due to the fact that there are no visual or physical characteristics that can distinguish one from the other. All the differences between them lie in the ownership arrangements that the residents have. With a condominium, the residents usually own their housing unit, and collectively own the land on which it sits. In a cooperative, the residents rent the units, and the land is owned by a single entity, either a corporation or other type of business association.
Laws and Regulations Concerning Common Interest Communities in Pottstown, Pennsylvania
While there are a lot of Pottstown, Pennsylvania laws that will affect the residents and owners of condominium and cooperative communities, there are few that are actually specific to such communities. Instead, they are mostly governed by laws of more general application, such as contract law, zoning laws, and landlord/tenant law.
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 usually mandate cleanliness, keeping noise to a minimum, and regulate the presence of pets.
The power of landowners is limited, however, and there are some rules that cannot be given legal effect. For example, in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, any rule which would exclude residents based on their race is completely unenforceable. Such discrimination is clearly prohibited under federal law, private property rights notwithstanding.
Can a Pottstown, Pennsylvania Attorney Help?
If you are in a dispute with your homeowners' association, a neighbor, or your landlord in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, a reputable real estate lawyer may prove extremely helpful, if the dispute cannot be otherwise resolved.