February 16, 2026 - Blog Post

Why Condo Owners Do Not Follow the Rules

Why do condo owners ignore the rules?  It’s rarely malice—more often ignorance, entitlement, convenience, and weak enforcement.  A few rule-breakers can make condo living miserable, so boards need to educate first and escalate when needed.  Here’s what’s really going on:

Because humans + shared property = chaos sometimes
It’s usually not just one reason. Here are the most common ones:

They don’t actually know the rules.
Condo documents are long, boring, and full of legalese.  Some owners never read them (or forgot), especially smaller rules about noise hours, pets, balconies, or renovations.  Make sure all owners and renters are aware of the rules.

“I own it, so I can do what I want.”
Some people genuinely see ownership as total freedom and resent being told what to do—even though condo ownership is legally different from a detached home.

They think rules are unfair or outdated.
If a rule feels silly, old-fashioned, or badly enforced, people are more likely to ignore it instead of going through the effort to change it properly.  Make sure you as a board review the rules annually and ask for input on what the ownership feels might be unfair or outdated.

Weak or inconsistent enforcement.
If the board only enforces rules sometimes—or only against certain people—owners learn that consequences are unlikely and push boundaries.

They don’t see how their behavior affects others.
Noise, smells, short-term rentals, storage in common areas—many owners underestimate the ripple effects on neighbors.  Keep records of complaints with specific times and dates and the issue.

Convenience beats compliance.
Rules can feel inconvenient (parking, garbage sorting, renovation hours), and some people will choose the easier option unless stopped.

Entitlement or “main character” energy.
A small group just believes their needs matter more than everyone else’s.  No deeper mystery there.

Conflict avoidance by the condo board.
When boards avoid confrontation, rule-breakers notice and keep going—sometimes escalating.

They assume the worst-case won’t happen.
Fines, legal action, or forced compliance feel abstract… until they’re not. As a board do not be afraid or hesitant to use the tools you have.  Remember you have a responsibility to ensure people comply with the rules.

In summary, the reasons people ignore rules is usually a mix of ignorance, attitude, weak enforcement, and human nature—not necessarily malice.  The frustrating part is that even a few rule-breakers can make condo life miserable for everyone else.  At first give them the benefit of the doubt but if they fail to comply be prepared to escalate.  Next week part III in the series discussing how we get condo owners to follow the rules.  See you then.

Michael Kennedy
CCI Nova Scotia