Readers’ reactions

Citizens association loses legal bid to collect maintenance fees from residents

“This is a great ruling. My complex is a mess. There is a small clique that controls everything and ignores the voices of the others. To date, I have not seen an audited statement.” – @hall_oneil

“Total chaos. You can always tell about a complex just by the upkeep.” – @MainsourceMedia

“Woooiieeee if I speak! Residents in the gated communities winning this week, man.” – @jayjamiejay1

“What a piece a something yah now if the ppl them in my little development see this.” – @sweetjarose

“So, I am curious...who will work to ensure that the shared spaces are properly maintained – @GarthMcKenzie7

“Well, that’s [why] the association should have a legal structure and maintenance should become a contractual obligation between the said association and homeowners...but y’all not ready fa that convo yet.” – @Lord_HenryKC

“I’ll take a house over a complex any day of the week.” – @DiRealLauren

“Oh what a shame.” – @missporterja

“This is a long-standing matter that needs to be addressed – citizens association, neighbourhood watch and CDCs all have that same issue, I believe.” – @theurbanfarmerja

“Den a who a go pay the security guard, the gardener, upkeep of the landscape; and if they have their own sewage system, how dat aguh maintain? This take money, which is what the maintenance fees are for. If houses cost 45 mil and up and living in a gated community or cooperative, those fees are necessary. Anyhow, gwaan do unuh ting. Maybe explore to reduce the fees because cost of living high yuh fret.” – @they_call_me_shosho

“It baffles me how people on here defending not paying maintenance fees for gated communities, knowing full well the community can’t maintain itself. Who [will] pay the security company, who [will] cut the open space lawns, who [will] coordinate the garbage pickups? Like, are we being serious with these arguments? Maybe it’s me assuming these ppl have any clue what they talking about; I wonder if some of them even live in gated communities. At the end of the day, the choice is yours; buy a house in a gated community, pay the fee. Don’t wanna pay the fee, go live somewhere else; simple.” – @andrene.addie

“I am very happy for those citizens. Bravo, bravo guys.” – @readyjuke

Readers’ reactions sourced from The Gleaner’s Instagram and X, formerly Twitter, pages. Compiled by Khanique McDaniel.