Legal Question in Real Estate Law in New Jersey

I'm confused about your situation. Is the condo association only 2 units/members? Are utilities separately metered and billed for each unit or for the entire condo? If utilities are billed for all of the condo property to the association, every member will have to share in those costs, but that would be the usual provision - there are certain costs that all owners share, and each owner pays its proportional share. The shared costs would be for utilities and other expenses that serve the entire association property, for instance, maintenance of the roof and common areas and any systems that serve the entire property, snow removal, lawn care [if those are provided for all owners], condo association insurance, and so on. Those expenses are part of what makes up your condo fee.

You may also want to look at your condo documents, and if there is a management company, ask it.

An owner cannot "threaten" to do a short sale. Short sales require consent of the mortgage lender to that owner. If the owner is in default on his mortgage, the mortgage lender could institute foreclosure against the owner and the unit he owns. Whoever ends up owning the foreclosed property will then be responsible for its proportional share of all condo costs.

THIS RESPONSE IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE, SINCE I DO NOT HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED, AND I DO NOT HAVE A REPRESENTATION AGREEMENT WITH YOU.

* If the answers to your question confirm that you have a valid issue or worthwhile claim, your next step should almost always be to establish a dialog with a lawyer who can provide specific advice to you. Contact a lawyer in your county or township.

* Another reason for contacting a lawyer is that it is often impossible to give a good answer in the Internet Q&A format without having more information. The unique circumstances of your situation and things that you may not have thought to mention in your question may completely change the answer. If you want to be sure that you have a complete answer to your question and an understanding of what that answer means, establish a connection with a lawyer who practices in the area of your concern.