patrick.net

Long time reader of Patrick.net here. Since 08. I thought this would be a great place to get some good input on the situation below.

My girlfriend has been renting a condo since last May. We recently found out that the owners have not been paying their condo fees and water bill. Looks like they're going to foreclose and are skimming as much money off the place as much as they can.

The condo complex recently sent a letter to her saying that, since the owners are not paying the association fees, she will be responsible for approx $330 in past water dues. They also said they will transfer the bill into her name. The lease she signed for the condo association and for the owners explicitly states that the water bill would be paid by the owner.

My GF sent an email to the association stating that she does not owe this and it's the owner's responsibility to pay. They responded that since the owners haven't paid, she does owe this and added another tidbit - "You will be receiving a rent demand letter from xxx law group and if this letter is disregarded the Association will start the eviction process."

Now, I know that since she never signed anything she shouldn’t have to pay the water bill. It looks like they are just trying to scare her into pressuring the owner into paying them for past association fees and the water bill.

I told her to lawyer up and sue them but she's afraid of paying even more money to a lawyer. She already paid until the end of April (last month's rent was paid up front) and is so stressed out from this that she wants to move right now.

Any thoughts on this situation? Is this a common tactic Condo Association's use right now to get owner's who are forclosing to pay them?