What's on a condo maintenance checklist?
Updated August 2026
In a condo, you maintain everything from your unit's walls inward: the HVAC filter and service, the water heater, in-unit shutoffs, the dryer vent, caulk, and your appliances, while the HOA maintains the roof, envelope, and common systems. The exact line lives in your bylaws and declaration, so read them. It matters, because a water heater that fails at 8 to 12 years and leaks into the unit below is almost always your bill, not the association's.
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Replace or check the HVAC filter | 30–90 days | 5 min · DIY |
| Clean the dishwasher and range-hood filters | Monthly | 15 min · DIY |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Test the smoke and CO alarms | Quarterly | 2 min · DIY |
| Check sinks and the water heater for leaks | Quarterly | 10 min · DIY |
| Exercise the in-unit shutoff valves | Quarterly | 5 min · DIY |
| Task | Interval | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Service HVAC and flush the water heater | Yearly | $80–200 pro |
| Clean the dryer vent, re-caulk wet areas | Yearly | $100–170 pro |
What neglect costs
The costly condo surprises are the ones on your side of the line that you assumed were the building's. A water heater in a closet fails at 8 to 12 years and can flood your floor and the unit below, and that liability, plus your own drywall and flooring, lands on you and your HO-6 policy, easily $5,000 to $20,000. A neglected in-unit dryer vent is a fire risk the HOA will not cover. If you rent the unit short-term, add the Airbnb host turnover list on top of this one.
Leave these to a pro
Two in-unit jobs are worth hiring: an annual HVAC service ($80–200, or bundled into an association-approved vendor's rate) and a dryer-vent cleaning ($100–170), both squarely your responsibility even when the equipment sits in a shared chase. Before any work that touches walls, floors, or plumbing, check whether your declaration requires HOA approval or a licensed, insured contractor, because an unpermitted change that causes damage can void coverage. Budget $300–500 a year for in-unit pro upkeep.
This whole checklist ships as reminders in OnOtto: every task above, on the right schedule for your home, snooze-proof.
Load this checklist as remindersFrequently asked questions
What does the HOA maintain versus the owner?
As a rule of thumb, the association maintains the building envelope and everything shared: the roof, siding, foundation, hallways, elevators, and the pipes and wiring inside common walls. You maintain everything inside your unit's boundary, typically the paint-in surface of the walls inward: your HVAC, water heater, fixtures, appliances, cabinets, flooring, and the in-unit portions of plumbing and electrical. The precise line is defined in your declaration and bylaws, and it varies between buildings, so read yours rather than assuming.
Who pays if my water heater leaks into the unit below?
Usually you. If the failure originates from equipment inside your unit, most declarations make you responsible for the damage to your own unit and, through liability, to the neighbor's. The HOA's master policy covers the building structure and common areas, not your appliances or the water damage they cause. This is exactly what an HO-6 condo policy with adequate dwelling and loss-assessment coverage exists for. Replacing an aging water heater on schedule, at 8 to 12 years, is the cheapest way to avoid the whole question.
Do I need my own insurance if the HOA has a policy?
Yes. The HOA master policy typically covers the building and common areas, often only up to the bare walls or original finishes, and nothing inside your unit. An HO-6 policy fills the gap: your improvements, personal property, liability, and loss of use. Add loss-assessment coverage, which pays your share when a large common claim exceeds the master policy and the board assesses every owner. Review the limits yearly, because a renovated kitchen can outgrow the coverage you bought at closing.
Is a condo really less maintenance than a house?
Less, but not none. You are freed from the roof, gutters, siding, lawn, and exterior systems that the HOA handles through your dues, which is real. What remains is the full interior: HVAC filters and service, the water heater, appliances, caulk and grout, and in-unit plumbing and electrical. The trap is assuming zero, then getting caught by a water-heater flood or a clogged dryer vent that was always yours. Run the quarterly and yearly items and it stays genuinely light.