THE UNFIXABLE TILE

Once upon a time, the owner of a newly turned-over office unit noticed a chipped tile in the hallway, right in front of his door.

It was an eyesore, and someone could trip on it.

He reported it to the building admin. They agreed it was broken and said they would fix it.

Months passed. Nothing happened.

So the owner made an offer. He would replace the tile himself, at his own expense, using a matching tile. The admin turned him down and said they would handle it.

More months passed. Then years.

The tile is still chipped today.

Why couldn't the owner just fix it himself? In a condominium, the hallway outside your door isn't yours. It's a common area, usually managed by the condominium corporation under the Master Deed and the house rules. Even a small repair there needs their approval, and they control the timing.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Put every report in writing, and keep copies.

• If it's a safety issue, say so plainly, since that tends to move things faster.

• When you buy, look at the common areas too, not just the unit. A building where small things stay broken for years is telling you something about how it's managed.