[MattGaiser]

That’s why I will never buy into shared anything, not why I will warm up to homeowners associations.

You are at the mercy of the average members of your group and the average person let’s things decay until it falls down around them.

[thisrobot]

As someone living in a condo with and hoa I completely disagree. I get yearly budgets, bi-yearly building inspection reports. The hoa has a fiduciary responsibility to the building and is required by law not to let things decay. Without the hoa communal living wouldn’t work, and not everyone can have a single family home, especially in urban centers.

[MattGaiser]

I think this heavily depends on your local regulations.

My grandparents had a condo once and because the people in the association didn't want to pay, they endlessly deferred maintenance until it was 40K a unit. All because they didn't want to fix leaky windows 10 years beforehand.

My home city is filled with examples of this kick it to the next year approach to maintenance.

Most people are that way. They view a bucket as a solution to water dripping in through the roof.