II. Breakdown of Maintenance Responsibilities

To allow members maximum flexibility in adapting their dwelling unit to their individual needs, and to keep the maintenance costs affordable, maintenance responsibility for GHI units is divided between the corporation and the individual member. Generally, the corporation is responsible for maintenance of the basic structure of the dwelling unit along with the sidewalks, parking lots and common areas, while the member is responsible for the finishes, cabinets, and appliances. Additions, alterations, installation of new equipment are generally the member's' responsibility, unless those additions are enrolled in the corporation's addition maintenance program. When in doubt about whether an item is covered by GHI maintenance, the member should call the maintenance office and a staff person will make an inspection if necessary.

1. MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES

   Members are responsible for the following areas of property maintenance:

   1. Interior painting, decorating, and floor care, which includes maintaining a varnish finish on exposed wood floors.
   2. Window glass, including the seals between panes on insulated glass on windows installed prior to the 2016-20 Homes Improvement Program (HIP), non-standard windows and doors installed by members, window treatments, screens, shutters, and door glass.
   3. Air conditioners, furnaces and exhaust fans (except for those in the 29 larger homes), heat pumps (except for those enrolled in GHI’s maintenance reserve program or still under a HIP Optional Items installation warranty), ventilation fans, wood stoves and fireplaces, ranges, range hoods, refrigerators, washers, dryers, dryer vents, garbage disposals in frame and masonry homes, and any additional applianceswashers, dryers, garbage disposals, air conditioners, and any additional appliances.
   4. Kitchen and medicine cabinets that are not original to the structure.
   5. Floor tile in frame home kitchens and baths as well as all non-original floor tile in all homes.
   6. Wall tile, tub enclosures, and similar items.
   7. Carpeting.
   8. Smoke detectors (other than those provided and installed by GHI) and carbon monoxide detectors (except for those installed by GHI in the 29 larger homes).
   9. Telephone, Internet and cable television wiring and equipment.
   10. Ceiling finishes other than drywall in frame homes, larger townhouses and single-family homes and plaster in masonry homes.
   11. Pull-down attic stairs.
   12. Exterior painting of masonry homes in accordance with the GHI painting policy (see XI).
   13. Sheds, trash containers and enclosures (except the original trash closets in the frame and masonry homes), fences, patios, decks, arbors, pergolas, privacy screens, ponds, fire pits, and retaining walls not installed by GHI.
   14. Gardenside exterior light fixtures and all exterior electrical outlets.
   15. The care of lawns, plantings, trees (up to 8' in height), and hedges within the member's yard.
   16. Television and radio antennas (see XII). 
   17. All repairs made necessary by the negligence of the member or by the negligence of persons living in or visiting the residence.
2. GHI RESPONSIBILITIES

   GHI will be responsible for the following areas of property maintenance. NOTE THAT ANY DEFICIENT CONDITION MUST BE REPORTED TO GHI MAINTENANCE IMMEDIATELY.

   1. Repairs to structural components and additions which are enrolled in the additional maintenance program.
   2. All GHI-installed electrical equipment (or member-installed equivalent) and service related to heat and hot water.
   3. GHI standard plumbing fixtures including bathtubs and sinks, supply lines, and waste lines.
   4. Roofs, original porch decks, and porch overhangs.
   5. Flooring, steps, and subflooring in all homes, as well as original asbestos floor tile in masonry and larger homes.  Original black floor tiles in masonry homes contain non-friable asbestos; staff should be consulted before disturbing them.
   6. Window frames, sashes and sills (excluding glass except as stated in A.2).
   7. Plaster and drywall repairs.
   8. Exterior and trash closet doors and door frames, original screen doors, door locks, weatherstripping, and door knobs.
   9. Vinyl siding.
   10. Yard swales and drainage.
   11. Sidewalks (original or added by GHI) and stoops.
   12. The removal or trimming of dead or potentially dangerous trees or limbs.
   13. Garages.
   14. Gutter and downspout cleaning and maintenance.
   15. Exterior trim painting in accordance with the schedule set by the Maintenance Department.
   16. Pest and Rodent control.
   17. Existing original clothes lines posts of the masonry homes.
   18. Servicing and repair (but not replacement) of air-to-air heat exchangers in masonry block homes.
   19. The following items are maintained in the 29 larger homes only:
       1. Furnaces and central air conditioning system.
       2. Kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans.
       3. Attic stairs in the 25 larger townhomes only.
       4. Passageway doors including glass and original jalousie doors in the larger 25 townhomes.
3. SPECIAL CONDITIONS
   1. A list of standard GHI fixtures and parts is available by contacting the warehouse. Members who are replacing or upgrading plumbing or electrical fixtures are encouraged to use standard fixtures for which replacement parts are kept in stock.
   2. Some GHI units contain non-standard plumbing fixtures (such as showers, single lever faucets and kitchen sink sprayers), or electrical components (such as light fixtures and ceiling fans), or building components (such as windows and doors) or original items that are obsolete and not replaceable. In these cases, GHI will supply the labor to make repairs provided that the member supplies the necessary replacement parts. This policy is necessary because it is impossible for the corporation to keep in stock all such parts and the cost of locating and obtaining these parts would be prohibitive. In cases where GHI has no expertise in repairing particular equipment, GHI is not responsible for the labor.
   3. At resale of a unit, staff supplies the new member with a list of improvements and non-standard parts and fixtures which are excluded from GHI maintenance.