Can I refuse to be the chair?

The short answer nobody wants to hear: the role is compulsory. The law says so expressly. But there are nuances.

The rule

The appointment (by rota, draw or election) is binding. Not living in the building does not exempt you; being an owner is what counts.

The legal ways out

• Judicial release: within one month of the appointment, you can ask a judge to release you on justified grounds (advanced age, illness, prolonged absence, documented family responsibilities). The judge decides and, if you are released, sets out how the substitute is to be appointed.
• An internal arrangement: far more practical — find a volunteer at the meeting itself, or swap turns ("I'll skip this one and take it next year"). Most "I can't" cases are settled this way.

What does not work

Ignoring the role. A chair who does not act remains legally responsible for the community — the worst of both worlds: the obligations without the control.

The honest reflection

Much of the fear of the role is fear of disorder: inheriting piles of paper, confusing accounts and rows. In a community with clear accounts, accessible minutes and orderly management, the role rotates without drama — and volunteers even turn up.