Timeshare Maintenance fees explained and why you have to pay them.

Timeshare Maintenance fees are the dues that members/owners pay to keep the resort in excellent condition.

They are an essential part of owning a timeshare.

The cost to operate a resort is spread out among all owners at that resort via an annual maintenance fee.  The fee must also build up reserves to pay for non-recurring costs like furniture, landscaping, external upgrades,  appliances etc. that need periodic replacement and other capital costs as normal physical deterioration occurs, just like your own costs of owning your house or car etc.  

Cost is established by the developer or HOA (homeowners association). Caution:  When a developer is in control, maintenance fees may be temporarily subsidized by the developer as a marketing tool while there is sales activity  (meaning low maintenance fees in early days sales).  After the HOA takes over, fees may quickly rise to unsubsidized levels without any warning.

Special Assessments are sometimes added to maintenance fees to cover unexpected (non-reserved) expenses.  These assessments are passed by the HOA board of directors.  

Severe storm damage not completely covered by insurance would be an example where an extra assessment would apply (think Florida or Caribbean timeshares during hurricane season).  These also come without warning and can actually be levied at any time!

As for cost, Maintenance fees vary with the location and resort, but are on average in the £250 to £1000 dollar range. You will pay more maintenance for a resort with more facilities as the cost of running the resort is higher.

Maintenance fees are important, they keep your resort maintained to the highest standard and I certainly wouldn't want to return to my home resort and notice that the standards had fallen.

Of course, If standards fell it might effect your trading power and would certainly affect your holiday. Nobody complains about maintenance fees whilst on holiday.

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