What Happens If You Don't Pay Your Condo Maintenance Fees in the DR?

Julissa bought a resale apartment and, three months later, the administrator knocked on her door with an outstanding bill. The overdue fees belonged to the previous owner. Nobody told her before she signed.

If you live in a building or are thinking of buying in one, this matters to you.

What condo maintenance is

In a condominium you share common areas: hallways, elevators, pool, security, water pump. Their upkeep is funded by monthly fees that each owner pays according to the condominium rules. The main legal framework is Law 5038 on condominiums.

To understand what those fees cover, see the 3 mandatory condo payments every buyer should know.

What can happen if you don't pay

The exact consequences depend on the rules and the situation, but the usual ones are:

• Late charges and interest according to the condominium rules.
• Restrictions on services or rights within what the rules and the law allow, for example losing your vote at assemblies.
• Legal claims by the administrator or board to collect the debt.
• A debt that follows the property. Pending debts complicate selling or transferring the apartment.

Talk to a lawyer before deciding not to pay over a dispute. Fees are contested through formal channels, not by stopping payment.

What to check if you are buying

1. A no-debt certificate from the condominium, signed by the administrator, before signing.
2. The condominium rules: monthly fee, reserve fund and regulations.
3. Special assessments approved or under discussion.
4. Recent assembly minutes, to see if there are disputes or large repairs.
5. Who covers prior debts, and that it is written in the contract.

On the administrator's role, read how the condo administrator affects your first purchase.

Red flags

The seller cannot get the no-debt certificate, the building has piling repairs with no funds, or the administrator does not provide clear accounts. If you see any of these, ask for clarification in writing before you reserve.

When you search, favor well-managed buildings among apartments for sale in Santo Domingo.