Mold and woodworm in your homeowners' association?

Questioner

In our 17th century house building on one of the floors in floor and ceiling beams mold and large woodworm has been discovered. The rest of the floors do not have this. The apartment has been inhabited by someone who never ventilated. It has been sold in the meantime and is being renovated. Should the homeowners association pay the costs of improving the beams?

Lawyer

This depends on the exact provisions in the deed of division or the model regulations declared applicable therein, but almost all deeds of division state that structural parts of the building are jointly owned and that their maintenance and/or replacement are part of the common costs.