One city, several housing patterns

Greenwood Village sits just east and south of Cherry Hills Village in Arapahoe County. Its western estate areas resemble its neighbor, with large lots and big custom homes. Elsewhere, single-family subdivisions from the 1970s through the 1990s feature two-story and split-level houses with finished basements. Attached townhomes and condominiums are common closer to the commercial and office areas along the interstate.

For mold, these differences matter more than the city line. An estate home's issues look like those in Cherry Hills Village. A subdivision house from the 1980s is more likely to have aging original water heaters, polybutylene or early plastic supply lines in some cases, and basement finishes added over the years without much attention to foundation moisture. In attached housing, a leak in one unit can become a neighbor's mold problem.

Detached house versus attached townhome or condo

Detached single-family home

  • Owner controls the whole building and its repairs
  • Moisture source is usually inside the property
  • Insurance claim is typically under one homeowner policy
  • Containment only has to protect one household

Townhome or condominium

  • HOA may be responsible for roofs, exterior walls and common pipes
  • Water can travel from a neighbor's unit through shared walls or floors
  • Owner's policy and the association's master policy may both be involved
  • Containment may need to address shared attics or crawlspaces

If you own attached housing in Greenwood Village

  • Read the association's declarations to see who maintains which parts of the building.
  • Notify the HOA or property manager in writing when mold is found and the source may be in a common element.
  • Ask neighbors above or beside you whether they have had leaks.
  • Document the source and extent with photos and readings before any work.
  • Find out whether the association has a preferred process or vendor list for water and mold events.
  • Check how your HO-6 policy and the master policy divide coverage.
Map of Greenwood Village. It shows an area, not an office or a job site.

Common questions

Who pays when a neighbor's leak causes mold in my townhome?
It depends on the cause, the association's governing documents and the insurance policies involved. Document the damage, notify the neighbor and the HOA in writing, and contact your own insurer. Your agent can explain how your HO-6 policy and the master policy interact.
Are estate homes in Greenwood Village different from those in Cherry Hills Village?
In terms of mold risk, they are very similar: large finished basements, multiple systems, irrigation-heavy lots and owners who may travel. The main practical differences are which city handles permits and the specific drainage patterns of each property.

General information for Cherry Hills Village, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.