Most condo units for sale in Los Angeles are in buildings that are more than 30 years old. They may offer nicely remodeled units with generous space, but older buildings need more maintenance. Here’s advice on issues buyers are likely to find while shopping for a condo unit in older buildings.
Condominium association policies are classified as commercial, not residential. That means condo associations are not guaranteed the consumer protections provided to single-family homes—including a moratorium on cancellations in areas near Los Angeles burn areas.
Given the reality of multi-million-dollar deductibles that may exceed actual damages, even HOAs that carry expensive earthquake policies may not have meaningful coverage. Boards can consider dropping the coverage—if their CC&Rs let them.
To pass electrical inspection, you may be required to install a protective bollard for an EV charger. Here’s how to challenge that expensive and often unnecessary requirement, plus updates on electrical room safety repairs and how to process EV charging applications within an HOA.
Organics recycling is now mandatory in California, including for condo buildings. Your waste hauler’s rules may offer a less messy method for compliance.
California Law 4745 requires HOAs to allow owners to install EV chargers, even in aging buildings with limited electrical capacity. After a fire in the electrical room, a board explored its options, including third-party stations, Level 1 “trickle charging” and Level 2 chargers with devices to prevent overloading capacity.
Condominium HOAs in Los Angeles may be eligible for significant savings on electricity bills by switching from the default residential rate to LADWP’s little-known A1A commercial rate. The option is not documented on LADWP’s website but for certain buildings, it can result in substantial cost reductions.