But when people buy into one of these developments, where homes can costs millions of dollars, landing in the middle of a board dispute can be a financial disaster. A renovation can be costly and lengthy, but not keeping a property fresh can hurt real estate values as developments with newer amenities spring up. Throw in a legal battle, and the costs can rise quickly.

“Most of the battles that happen in these condos are power grabs,” said Rebecca S. Trinkler, a lawyer at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney. “There are disputes when board members are seen as taking advantage of their position.”

For example, she said she knew of a condo board president who used association funds to buy a pool table and club chairs so he and his pals could hang out. And a board member who gave contracts for the condo renovation to family members.

In Miami Beach, Fla., a condo called Nine Island Avenue became a case study in how not to remodel a pool area. One resident, the daughter of the developer, sued the condo president over renovations that were done to the building, including changing the color of a koi pond, removing an old trellis and selecting new pool furniture. The case went to arbitration, and the judge sided with the resident, saying the changes were never approved by the residents and had to be undone.

Most of these battles are settled in arbitration, but the legal costs can still run into the tens of thousands of dollars.

Laura Manning-Hudson, a partner at the law firm Siegfried Rivera, said she used Nine Island Avenue as an example for boards thinking of acting without input from the owners. “I try to keep my clients out of litigation as much as possible,” she said.