When you purchase a condo, you become part of your buildings home owners association (HOA) or condo association.  Along with that membership, comes a monthly fee which you are required to pay in the same proportion as your ownership in the common elements.  This money is necessary in order to pay for the operating expenses of your building, including such essential day to day items such as water, hallway lights, building insurance, etc..  not to mention the amount of money which should be set aside for a reserve.  However with smaller condominium projects if one or two people fail to pay their maintenance fee, the impact on the other residences is dramatic.  For example, in a 5 unit building, if 2 people don't pay their monthly fee, the remaining people are paying 33% of all expenses as opposed to 20%.  The laws protecting condo associations are weak at best.  And if an owner simply refuses to pay, there is not much more that can be done except for putting a lien on their property, but a lien doesn't pay the bills.  The whole problem is becoming more of an issue lately and recently my husband was quoted in the New Jersey Cooperator Monthly as saying "one of the most important safeguards is to be sure to have annual meetings and good communication among all the owners.  So if a problem starts, it can be quickly addressed".  As he is quoted in the paper, "The most tangible benefit" says Marciano, "is the ounce of prevention for a pound of cure theory.  If you take the management of the building seriously, it will result in a better upkeep and a higher price on resale."