Edmonds Condo and Co-op Lawyers

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Condominium and Cooperative Law in Washington

Cooperative and condominium communities are examples of a class of housing developments known as "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 responsible for taking maintaining the common areas in their communities, such as lawns, gardens, swimming pools, and the like. This responsibility is usually taken care of by charging the residents a periodic maintenance fee, to pay for the upkeep of the common areas.

Simply looking at the outside (or inside, for that matter) of a condo or cooperative community, you likely can't tell which it is.

This is because there are no physical characteristics that can clearly distinguish one from the other. The basic difference lies in the legal ownership arrangement. In a condominium community, the units are actually owned by the residents. The residents also collectively own the common areas, holding joint title to it. In a cooperative community, the buildings and land which make up the houses are owned by a single entity, and the individual units are often rented rather than owned by the residents.

Laws and Regulations Concerning Common Interest Communities in Edmonds, Washington

While there are a lot of Edmonds, Washington 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.

Generally, the rules established by the owner of the property, or the entity tasked with managing it, are going to have much more of a day-to-day effect on your life than any state laws governing these types of communities.

The land that common interest communities occupy is usually private property. Therefore, the owners of the property are free to make certain rules governing what is and isn't allowed on it. A good manager or owner will usually make every effort to strike a balance between residents' freedom to do what they want in their homes, and the rights of their neighbors to a safe, clean, and reasonably quiet living space.

Some of these rules, however, may not be enforceable, if push came to shove. This would depend on the specific laws of Edmonds, Washington which govern landlords and tenants.

Can a Edmonds, Washington Attorney Help?

If you are involved in an argument with your neighbor, in conflict with a zoning regulation, or in a dispute with your landlord, a good Edmonds, Washington real estate attorney can help you prevail.

Talk to a Real Estate Law Attorney now!

Life in Edmonds

Edmonds, Washington is a city in Snohomish County. It has a population of slightly over 40,000 people.

It is the oldest incorporated city in Snohomish County, Washington, having been founded in 1899 by a logger named George Brackett. It's not clear who or what the city of Edmonds, Washington is named after, but it is likely either then-U.S. Senator from Vermont George Franklin Edmunds, or nearby Point Edmund (later re-named to Point Edwards).

By 1900, regular ferry boat service to Seattle was available. Edmonds, Washington is an important regional center for the arts. It fetaures a well-known, privately-funded drama club, called the Driftwood Players. They do 4-5 major productions per season, interspersed with several more one-night plays.

It also has hosted a major art festival since 1957, which focuses on the visual arts such as painting and illustration, and collaborates with local schools, featuring several galleries exclusively displaying the artwork of local students, to help promote arts education. Edmonds, Washington also hosts a jazz festival every Memorial Day weekend, with professional, famous jazz performers playing, as well as music students from nearby schools.

Given its diverse, eclectic population and culture, it's no surprise that Edmonds, Washington has a diverse and well-rounded legal community. If you're facing a legal issue, and live in the area, it's almost certain that an Edmonds, Washington lawyer can help.

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