Condo & HOA News Items
An Ocean City condominium complex with a history of alleged structural problems dating back more than 40 years has been declared unsafe and was closed down by the city. Ocean City’s construction official issued “unsafe structural notices” and ordered the Seaspray condos to be vacated until repairs can be made, city spokesman Doug Bergen said. Read the article…………………………….
In a luxe N.Y. condo, residents battle over dumping the Trump name
A referendum underway inside one New York condominium building has led to bitter divisions between once-friendly neighbors, who have handed out dueling information and lobbed
Ocean City Condo Complex Shut Down Amid Safety Concerns (MD)
An Ocean City condominium complex with a history of alleged structural problems dating back more than 40 years has been declared unsafe and was closed
Elderly man dies in condo fire on Jacksonville’s Southside (FL)
An elderly man died Friday morning in a fire at a condo complex on Jacksonville’s Southside, firefighters said. The fire broke out shortly before 4
Following board refusal to step down, Westminster residents continue fight (DE)
The Westminster Civic Association board ignored residents’ pleas during the association’s annual meeting Tuesday evening, dismissing a petition signed by some 80 households calling for
Leaders in homeowners associations discuss how to improve sustainability practices (MT)
At a Thursday afternoon event where only about 35 people were expected to join, Jerome Tinianow, sustainability professional and proprietor of West Urban Sustainability, was
Hawaii’s Insurance Crisis as Premiums Nearly Quadruple
Sue Savio, president and owner of Insurance Associates and former president of the Hawaii Independent Insurance Agents Association, told Insurance Business America that insurance costs
Charge Up Fairfax Program Open to Communities Looking to Install EV Charging (VA)
Starting May 1, community associations in Fairfax County interested in installing electric vehicle charging stations for their residents will be able to apply for technical
Dispute over road maintenance at Georgetown Lake continues (MT)
“To me they are just abandoning us, they don’t care. To the point the people living up there are getting sick and tired of it.
Microwave starts fire at condominium building in Harford County (MD)
A microwave started a fire at a condominium building in Harford County, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. A neighbor of the occupant heard
Florida Condo & HOA News , National Condo & HOA News , Planning: Long-term & Disaster , Working With Government
Prepping for a nightmare scenario: What happens if there’s a condo collapse in Volusia County? (FL)
This week, some are training on how to respond to what would be a true nightmare: A condo collapse in Daytona Beach Shores. The Federal
‘Do something’: Condo owner frustrated other perceived inaction by property management company (TX)
rudy Allen has buyers’ remorse after dealing with what she describes as ‘issue after issue.’ The trombone player sold her home in 2020 and moved
Surfside condo collapse investigators provide key insights into possible causes of the disaster. Here are the top takeaways (FL)
Federal investigators on Thursday shared updates on their probe into the cause of the catastrophic 2021 condominium collapse in Surfside, Florida, providing key insights into
Condo & HOA Informational Articles
Landscaping and Covenant Enforcement (CO)
With spring being in full force and summer being just around the corner, we wanted to remind all Associations regarding policies, covenant enforcement and good practices as it relates to landscaping. Read the article..................................
Understanding Community Association Security Measures and Liabilities
A recent article from the Community Associations Institute in the organization’s excellent Ungated blog focused on important security and liability issues for associations. It discussed how communities can be exposed to legal liabilities for negligent security and crimes occurring on association property. Read the article..................................
The right stuff: Stirring up the perfect volunteer recipe
The CAI Nevada Chapter seems to have perfected the volunteer recipe. The chapter boasts a large, long-standing, and active contingent of homeowners who give their time, expertise, and effort to both their local communities and the chapter. Read the article..................................
California HOA Condos and Homes: Unveiling the Top 10 Pitfalls of Faulty Gutter & Fascia Installations
A common oversight with potentially significant financial impacts is the quality and installation of gutters and fascia. At Naumann Law Firm, we’ve seen firsthand how these defects can lead to extensive property damage and financial strain. In our most recent blog, we delve in a bit closer the top 10
Navigating Election Year in Your Community
Maintaining harmony within your community can be difficult during the best of times. But when election season rolls around, things can get especially tricky. With emotions running high and a wide variety of opinions among homeowners in your neighborhood, keeping things peaceful can feel like a true challenge. During these
Spring Has Sprung! Is Your Community Association Ready?
Spring has sprung! Which means that community associations through North and South Carolina will begin seeing increased community traffic, amenity use (including use of playgrounds, pools, tennis and pickleball courts), and increased social events. So, is your community ready. Read the article..................................
Ask the HOA Expert: Gutters That Work
Rain gutters are an inconspicuous but necessary building component that homeowner associations deal with. Their need to perform consistently triggers ongoing maintenance and repair to themselves, exterior paint, siding, roofs and trees. Failure to keep the gutter system running smoothly causes overflows, water intrusion, interior damage, structural dryrot and enormously
Community Association Considerations
No one is building condos anymore. (UT) Experts are trying to figure out why
"Last year, builders assembled more housing units than at any time in the past four decades, and virtually all of them were rental homes. For decades, condominiums made up about
Review or Audit the Books – always do one of these………
.....because if money disappears while you're on the board, you might as well move, as your neighbors will blame you just as much as the crook. Over the last month
Industry News
HOA and Condo Association Management Software
A new study report by Infinity Business Insights, with a focus
Becker Expands New Jersey Community Association
Becker, a leading multi-practice commercial law firm with attorneys, lobbyists, and
Robert Diamond named to Virginia Lawyers
Reed Smith is pleased to announce that Robert M. Diamond, a
Legal & Legislative Articles
Smoking in Community Associations: Carey v. The 400 Erie Condominium Association (IL)
The Illinois Appellate Court’s ruling in Carey v. The 400 Erie Condominium Association, a recent Rule 23 opinion of the First Appellate District Court, provided guidance for handling smoking nuisance cases in condominiums, emphasizing that rules
Connecticut Condo & HOA News , Energy/Water Conservation/Solar , Legal & Legislative News , Legislative Articles
House passes bill making it easier for condo owners to install solar (CT)
The bill serves as an expansion of the solar rights of members of common interest communities, which include condominiums, community apartments, planned developments, etc. A provision in the State’s Clean Air Act, passed in 2022, already
State law passed after Hurricane Ian negates Sarasota’s move to control taller buildings (FL)
Aloophole in Sarasota's development rules city officials closed last year has been reopened by a state law passed after Hurricane Ian, setting the stage for potential construction of the tallest building downtown and the opportunity for
Regarding who must report Beneficial Owner Information for an incorporated HOA, FINCEN’s FAQ has this to say: (OK)
A homeowners association (HOA) that meets the reporting company definition and does not qualify for any exemptions must report its beneficial owner(s). A beneficial owner is any individual who, directly or indirectly, exercises substantial control over
Bay Area condo war widens after $1 million units sell for just $32,000 (CA)
The auctioning of several downtown San Jose condominiums has spawned a widening legal war now that a troubled China-based real estate firm has filed a new lawsuit in the increasingly tangled case. China-based Z&L Properties has
Beware of Claims Deadlines! Florida Condominiums Have Supplemental and Reopened Claims Statute Deadlines
Florida is the only state to address and provide a statutory definition for a “re-opened claim” or a “supplemental claim.” Florida’s law is not a consumer protection law. Instead, it is an insurance company protection law.
Op/Ed
Condos, HOAs Should be Exempted From Corporate Tranparency Act
Community Associations Institute (CAI), the leading international authority on community association governance, education, and management, is calling on policymakers to exempt homeowners associations, condominiums, and housing cooperatives from the beneficial ownership interest reporting requirements outlined in
Sun City HOA needs your support
Moving to Sun City provided a super opportunity to meet and associate with many other like-minded people. Cultivating these relationships, making new friends and gathering with neighbors, is fulfilling for lots and lots of Sun City
Low condo reserves could lead to crisis for owners. What’s the best approach? (FL)
In the past, some would assume that the motivation for serving on a condominium board was to leverage a prime parking spot. The more recent reality is very different, with board members’ decision-making history now being
Dunwoody Lemonade Days celebrates 25 years of revitalization (GA)
Lemonade Days has been a Dunwoody tradition since 1999. The first event was held as a fundraiser for a campaign to replant trees following the devastating tornado that cut through Dunwoody on April 9, 1998. The
Urgent fix needed for South Florida condo owners as climate threatens structures
Florida condominium owners are getting buffeted from every direction, and it’s starting to hurt. Flooding, hurricanes, soaring insurance premiums, and now a new state law designed to protect residents physically but which could kill them financially,
Climate change is threatening South Florida condo owners. The state should help them.
Florida condominium owners are getting buffeted from every direction and it’s starting to hurt. Flooding, hurricanes, soaring insurance premiums, and now a new state law designed to protect residents physically but which could kill them financially,
Canada Condo, Strata & HOA News
Condo Smarts: CRA filing for bare trust no longer mandatory for strata (BC)
Q: Our management company is charging us $800 for each of our trust accounts to file the new tax returns required for bare trusts. If a strata corporation is self managed or
BC Property Owners Group Seeking Judicial Review Of Short-Term Rental Legislation
A big property owners group in British Columbia has officially filed suit against both the Province of British Columbia and the City of Victoria over the new short-term rentals legislation that's set
No injuries after 2-alarm condo blaze in Maple Leaf Square area (ON)
Toronto firefighters and police officers said the blaze was believed to have started at about 12:23 p.m. on a balcony at the residential building near the York St.-Bremner Blvd. area and Maple
Canada Condo, Strata & HOA Articles
Owner’s Complaints Cannot Be Ignored (AB)
Sometimes there are well reasoned decisions from other Canadian jurisdictions with which boards of directors and lawyers in Ontario should be familiar. In Aubin v Condominium Plan No 862 2917, an Alberta
Awnings And Condominium Regulations: What You Need To Know (AB)
The installation of awnings in condominiums it represents an issue of common interest for many homeowners. This is a topic that affects legal, aesthetic and coexistence aspects, making it a complex topic
Social Committee
Committees are a crucial part of any successful condominium corporation. Comprised of volunteers, condominium corporation committees help support the board of directors so they can focus their efforts on accomplishing operational duties
International Condo, Strata & HOA News
Australia: ACIL report exposes strata insurance regulatory gaps
The Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby (ACIL) has published an in-depth report revealing the gaps in the strata insurance sector.....The report noted uncertainty among respondents about which regulatory body is responsible
Australia: Strata manager sacked after avoiding jail time over elaborate $58k rental scam
A man who avoided jail time after defrauding Australians out of $58,000 in an elaborate rental scam has been sacked from his job as a strata manager. Last month, news.com.au
Bahamas: Old Fort Bay developer secures win in legal battle with homeowners’ association, celebrates hard-fought victory
The developer, The Old Fort Bay Company Limited, represented by attorney Gail Lockhart Charles KC, noted in a statement that the Court of Appeal in its ruling had categorically rejected