Board president here. I want to know how other buildings handle shareholders who get to the top of the garage waiting list but don’t have a vehicle.

It has reportedly been the (unwritten) policy of this building to require such shareholders to a) get a car, b) take their names off the list, or c) go back to the bottom of the list. However, recently a shareholder (and board member) was “shocked” to learn this and maintains that “most buildings” just allow such shareholders to remain at the top of the list. They would then be the first people offered every successive open spot until such time as they would finally like to buy a car. This person just so happens to have just gotten to the top of the list and doesn't have a vehicle, so I'm looking for some disinterested corroboration of this claim.

Anyone have experience with this matter?

I can’t think of a reason that allowing people to just remain at the top of the list forever would affect the fairness of the process (at least for those who join the list now - those who've already given up a space or declined to put their names on the list because of past policy might take issue with a change).

However, I can also see that it could become an administrative nightmare. And for some reason the idea makes me uncomfortable. it seems wrong somehow - but, like I said, I can't think of a good reason why.

Any thoughts or policy examples would be greatly appreciated.