Cohousing-L Mailing List: Community Policies for Unit Repairs & Reno?

[Philip Dowds (rpdowds]

Cohousing Friends —

This is a complex topic that probably warrants more research than a simple 
email exchange.  But here’s the issue:

Individual households may occasionally commission private unit repairs and 
renovations that could have impacts on, and perhaps threaten risks to, adjacent 
or abutting units, and the commons itself.  Obviously, we all want to allow 
unit owners to maintain and even alter their units, and do not want to make the 
repair/renovation process overly complex.  On the other hand, we also want to 
have adequate protections for the property and interests of abutters and the 
commons.

SO: In these circumstances, what kinds of protection policies or guidelines 
have you found to be useful or important in your community?  Examples might 
include …
  •  Rules affecting performance of the work, like on-site parking or hours of 
operation?  Guidelines for movement of labor, materials, and heavy equipment 
through the commons, to the unit?
  •  Procedures for altering exterior doors or windows?
  •  Collection and filing of insurance certificates; special insurance 
provisions like “additional insured” or “hold harmless”?
  •  Precautions appropriate to shared construction elements, like structure or 
plumbing; requirements for stamped engineering plans?

I’ll take anything I can get:  A discussion on this list; private emails; 
sample bylaws; horror stories, whatever.  What I will do in return is write 
back with succinct report about what I’m learning.

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Thanks, and feel free to call,
Philip Dowds
Cornerstone Cohousing, Cambridge, MA
617.460.4549