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Can I refuse to pay the maintenance fee if I don't use the pool or elevator?

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Kate_Bud
Joined:
05.12.2020
Posts: 729
Topic Starter
11.01.2025 11:41
Hey everyone, I recently bought a condo and I'm trying to figure out the monthly HOA and maintenance fees. The building has a huge swimming pool, a gym, and several elevators, but I live on the ground floor and honestly don't plan on using any of those amenities. Is there any way to opt out of paying for the upkeep of things I never touch? It feels unfair to shell out money for a pool I'll never swim in.
15 replies in this topic
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Chris_K
Joined:
01.11.2021
Posts: 1765
13.03.2025 02:15
Short answer: No, you definitely cannot refuse to pay.
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simon_v
Joined:
06.11.2024
Posts: 1756
19.03.2025 06:05
In reply to a previous post
When you buy a condo, you sign a contract agreeing to the HOA bylaws. Those fees cover shared spaces, not just individual use.
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Igor_Tech
Joined:
07.10.2022
Posts: 926
24.04.2025 17:33
In reply to a previous post
Even though you live on the ground floor, the elevators and roof are part of the building's structural maintenance. If the roof leaks, you pay too.
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Kate_J
Joined:
02.08.2022
Posts: 1519
11.05.2025 05:56
Think of it like city taxes. I don't use the public parks downtown, but my tax dollars still go toward maintaining them.
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lone_wolf
Joined:
31.05.2021
Posts: 1569
14.05.2025 07:38
In reply to a previous post
Spot on with the tax analogy! HOA fees work the exact same way.
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Stacy_B
Joined:
09.08.2023
Posts: 2285
23.06.2025 04:12
Actually, in some rare cases with townhomes, exterior maintenance can be split differently, but for a high-rise condo? Zero chance of opting out.
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Lida_C
Joined:
20.07.2024
Posts: 421
18.07.2025 02:59
In reply to a previous post
Just wait until you try to sell the place. Having a nice pool and gym actually boosts your property value, so you benefit even if you don't use them.
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Leon_M
Joined:
14.05.2024
Posts: 658
24.09.2025 11:01
It definitely feels unfair at first, especially when you're shelling out a few hundred bucks a month for amenities gathering dust.
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WhiteCrow
Joined:
22.02.2023
Posts: 1430
02.10.2025 15:11
In reply to a previous post
I totally get your frustration, OP. But check your HOA docs anyway, just to be 100% sure what's included.
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Milos_S
Joined:
12.12.2024
Posts: 70
20.10.2025 06:16
In reply to a previous post
If you could opt out of fees based on usage, nobody would pay for the lobby cleaning or the security guard either.
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Alan_K
Joined:
17.12.2022
Posts: 1399
30.11.2025 09:07
Lol good luck telling the property manager you won't pay for the pool. They'll slap you with late fees and liens so fast your head will spin.
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Stacy_B
Joined:
20.01.2024
Posts: 525
20.01.2026 15:24
That's why renting single-family homes is sometimes better if you hate HOA rules.
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Stacy_B
Joined:
19.01.2025
Posts: 1126
19.02.2026 09:39
In reply to a previous post
Read your CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions). It's all spelled out in legal jargon in there.
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Vic_S
Joined:
10.07.2022
Posts: 1404
03.04.2026 18:40
In reply to a previous post
My advice? Start using the gym! Since you're paying for it anyway, you might as well get your money's worth.
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Hub_K
Joined:
15.06.2025
Posts: 2021
13.04.2026 14:43
In reply to a previous post
Welcome to condo life, OP. It's rough at first, but you get used to it.

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