Charlestowne Condominiums owes nearly $1 million in water bills that should have been paid using homeowners’ fees. However, that has not happened, and the residents fear the water supply may be cut off.
High Water Bills
The Charlestowne Condominium Complex on Greenwood Drive in Portsmouth has over 240 condo units. Hundreds of residents live in the complex who pay homeowners association fees. However, while these fees should have been used to pay the water bills, that has not happened. The residents are now $969,222.14 delinquent and could be forced out of their properties. This problem is not new and has been going on for years.
Six master water meters service the complex as a whole. Former Portsmouth Deputy City Manager Vernell Woods was working with the utilities director to make plans to install individual meters for each unit. This would allow each homeowner to receive their water bills directly based on usage.
A Litigious History
The Charlestowne Homeowners Association has employed several management companies over the years. Relationships within the association have been complex as the owners and Charlestowne have filed multiple lawsuits. The HOA’s most recent management company is the Chesapeake-based Association Management Advisors Group (AMAG).
AMAG said the association has dramatically improved in the last 9 months. Homeowners have access to the community’s financial statements, which have all been transparent. However, AMAG admits there have been past failures, but they blame it on the homeowners’ lack of prior fiduciary responsibilities.
Some homeowners who claim to have been paying their monthly fees are mad that the water bills are delinquent. They are afraid that the water could be cut off. However, a city spokesperson said the water supply will not be cut off now. Virginia’s property maintenance code states that a place without water is unsafe as water is necessary for sanitary and plumbing facilities. Turning off the water could lead to the condemnation of the condominium and displace hundreds of people.
Meanwhile, the work on installing individual meters continues. According to the city, the design and construction process may take 18 months and cost around $2.5 million.
