Common element
The shared parts of a condo or HOA community that the association owns and maintains for everyone.
Common elements are the parts of a condominium or planned community that no single owner owns outright — the roof, exterior walls, foundation, hallways, elevators, lobbies, pools, landscaping, and the land itself. Every owner holds an undivided share of them, and the association is responsible for maintaining, repairing, and insuring them out of the dues everyone pays. The flip side is your unit's interior, which is yours to maintain. The dividing line between the two is set by the [CC&Rs](/glossary/ccandrs), so the exact boundary varies from community to community — [here's how to find yours](/guides/hoa-vs-homeowner-maintenance-responsibilities).