HOA blows plumbing fix, should pay owner $55

Q: I have some questions for you.

First, this month we got a notice that our homeowners association board of directors will hold meetings on the other side of town. We always had meetings near our condominiums. The meetings are to be held at 6 p.m. Since the meeting were always held within a reasonable distance from the condos (about one to two miles) I don’t understand why they would change the location. Is this legal to move it further away so that most won’t be able to attend?

Secondly, my condo’s two toilets and two bathtubs overflowed. The condo that is attached to mine had the same problem. The two condos upstairs did not have any problem.

We called the emergency number since this happened at midnight. The association’s management company told us we needed to call a plumber. They said that we must have thrown something into the toilet to cause this.

I told him that it was coming from the outside pipe. We had this same problem this September, and that is how I identified problem.

I called two plumbers and explained the situation to them, and they both agreed it was the outside main pipe that was clogged and needed to be cleaned.

Management told me that plumbers cannot diagnose the problem over the phone, and told us, again, I would have to get my own plumber.

My plumber came to the condo, saw the problem and said he can’t do anything as the pipe outside was clogged. We had to pay him $55 for this information.

Our plumber spoke to management on the phone before he left and explained the situation, and he finally agreed to send the HOA’s plumber. The clog was finally cleared at 7 to 7:30 p.m.

My question is this: Is the HOA management company responsible for reimbursing my $55 plumber’s bill?

Am I entitled to an apology for this whole mess?

Last time they sent the plumber into the units to blow the pipes, what the plumber did was unbelievable!

He put his mouth on our bathroom faucet and blew. That’s how he blew the pipes. Dirt and rocks were expelled into the condos. That’s how he blew the pipes clean. The management company still use this plumbing company!

Q: As to your first question, you did not indicate where the meetings were being held. In some cases, such as with public libraries, associations are unable to hold their meetings because of time limits.

In some cases, associations are charged higher fees for the use of some private facilities.

There is no law that would prevent the association from having the board and membership meetings at a different location, even if it is not the closest location to the association.

As to your second question, send a written letter to the association, along with the plumber’s invoice and proof of your payment to the plumber, and formally ask the HOA to reimburse you.

Obviously, they can decide not to reimburse you.

If that is the case, you would need to decide if it was worth your time to file a small claims action against the association.

Note: The state’s Real Estate Division’s Office of the Ombudsman holds free monthly HOA education classes. Here are some scheduled for this month: executive board responsibilities, 2-4 p.m. Feb. 26, Peccole Ranch HOA, 9501 Red Hills Road; and HOA financial statements, 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 28, Bradley Building, 2501 E. Sahara Ave.

Barbara Holland, certified property manager, broker and supervisory certified association manager, is president and owner of H&L Realty and Management Co. Questions may be sent to Association Q&A, P.O. Box 7440, Las Vegas, NV 89125. Fax is 702-385-3759, email is support@hlrealty.com.