Condo & HOA News Items
Homeowners associations can no longer dictate when residents put up political yard signs thanks to a Vancouver couple’s lawsuit. Under Washington state law, homeowners associations cannot ban people from displaying political yard signs before an election. But the law doesn’t specify how long before. That spurred an argument between Janet and Phil Landesberg and the Fairway Village Homeowners Association that made its way to the Washington Court of Appeals,.
Marconi Point condo verdict deferred on $3.1M in potential fines (HI)
The state Board of Land and Natural Resources on Friday was poised to make a landmark decision on fines for alleged violations on conservation lands
Sinkhole saga at Phoenix condo complex could soon be over (AZ)
People fed up with a growing sinkhole at the Parkside Condominiums on Bell and Cave Creek Roads are feeling optimistic. The HOA board, the VP,
HOA Q&A: Can board members group text to keep updated on association business? (FL)
Q: We have seven board members on our board. Can we all be on a group text or is this considered a quorum? Two of
Condo owners in costly fight vs. developer (IA)
The five women estimate it has cost $50,000 so far to sue to try to gain control of their condo association, and here’s the kicker:
Rising insurance costs push aspiring condo buyers into a tough spot (HI)
Housing affordability is getting squeezed by a new pressure — the cost of insurance. At a recent residential real estate roundtable held by Pacific Business
Disaster assistance for privately owned roads and bridges (ME)
For Mainers who live in Cumberland, Hancock, Knox, Lincoln, Sagadahoc, Waldo, Washington or York counties and had a privately owned road or bridge damaged or
HOA Homefront: Officers, who does what? (CA)
Kelly, I am a sitting board member for our HOA and we are coming up next week with our annual board election and a possible
HOA residents who couldn’t get mail after box fell over (FL)
Rachel Sykes says she could see it coming. Her HOA neighborhood mailbox was rusty and then it fell over in early March. She reported the
4,800 Claims Handled by Unlicensed Adjusters in Florida After Irma, Lawsuit Says
In one of the suits, brought by a Miami condominium association, the plaintiffs produced records they said showed that after Hurricane Irma, almost 4,800 claims
Ocean City Condo Complex Remains Closed for Safety Repairs (MD)
An Ocean City condominium complex that was shut down last week by the city’s construction official amid safety concerns will remain closed until structural repairs
Houston homeowners told remove utility box or pay fine (TX)
A grandmother worried about paying daily HOA fines calls KPRC 2 to help resolve issues with a utility box in front of her home. The
Two people hospitalized after 2-alarm blaze at Brookfield condo complex (CT)
The fire appeared to have consumed a large number of units in at least one of the buildings. "There are numerous agencies working in the
Condo & HOA Informational Articles
The Importance of Professional HOA Contracts (GA)
Community associations cannot accomplish all the tasks they are responsible for without getting outside professionals to help maintain and service their assets. With every agreement to provide a service or to supply materials comes HOA contracts. Read the article..................................
Fixing Your HOA’s Governing Documents
Governing documents are often overlooked until an issue spotlights deficiencies. When this occurs, it's often too late to amend the governing documents to correct the deficiency. HOAs should periodically review their governing documents to identify areas which may warrant an amendment. This is especially true for communities with older governing
Effective Committees: Maximizing Use of Community Volunteers (NJ)
In a typical co-op, condo, or homeowners association, residents have a lot to say about how their building or community is or should be functioning … but few actually step up to run for and serve on the board that does the actual governing. One reason is that board service
Waterproofing Your Building Envelope Protecting Structure & Health (NJ)
With severe weather events becoming ever more common—and more intense—waterproofing your building’s envelope against rain, wind, snow, and ice is a growing concern. To counter the effects of climate change on buildings both old and new, our main focus must be on maintaining the integrity of the structural envelope. Proper,
Architectural Control , Condo & HOA Articles , Environment , Grounds/Landscaping/Roads , Michigan Articles , Working With Owners
Understanding Landscaping Architectural Requirements for Co-owners
When it comes to maintaining the aesthetic and functional integrity of shared properties, understanding the landscaping architectural requirements is crucial for co-owners. Whether you are part of a homeowners association (HOA), a condominium association, or any other type of residential community, staying informed about these regulations can help you avoid
Reduced Quorum for Elections (CA)
QUESTION. If our 50% quorum is not achieved, is there a requirement that another vote take place but with a 20% quorum requirement? If so, how quickly does this need to take place? Read the Q&A......................................
Preferences on Remote Work Revealed in New Survey
The traditional office model is a thing of the past. A recent survey conducted by the Foundation for Community Association Research reveals new insights into employee and management preferences. The findings could help ensure a balance and a smooth transition into evolving workplace models. As we navigate the post-pandemic landscape,
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
Florida Condos And Community Associations Beware: New Bad Faith Law Adds Negligent Security Lapses To Growing List Of Potential Liability Claims
Enacted in 2023, HB 837 substantially modified Florida’s bad faith laws and the state’s comparative negligence system from a “pure” to a “modified” one whereby a plaintiff who is found to be more than 50 percent
Case Discussions , Displays & Signs , Headline , Legal & Legislative News , Washington Condo & HOA News
East Vancouver couple prevail over homeowners association on when political signs can go up before election (WA)
Homeowners associations can no longer dictate when residents put up political yard signs thanks to a Vancouver couple’s lawsuit. Under Washington state law, homeowners associations cannot ban people from displaying political yard signs before an election.
Bill Seeks to Raise Emission Caps, Delay Penalties for Garden Co-ops and Condos (NY)
City Councilmember Linda Lee, a Queens Democrat, has introduced a new bill that updates an old idea. The bill, known as Intro 0772, seeks to delay penalties and increase carbon emission caps for thousands of buildings
House Bill 1029: My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program
This act intends to provide condominium associations with a program similar to the My Safe Florida Home Program by establishing what is known as the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot (MSFCP) Program. Eligible condominiums can now
FTC’s Final Rule: Understanding the Ban on Non-Compete Clauses
On April 23, 2024, the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced its final rule on non-competition clauses, voting 3-2 to adopt the final regulations, known as the “Non-Compete Clause Rule.” This rule marks a significant
Homestead lawsuit goes to trial on April 30 (WA)
The plaintiffs’ side alone lists 66 witnesses and 101 exhibits in the multi-sided Homestead case scheduled to come to trial in Whatcom County Superior Court on Tuesday, April 30. Trial may last three weeks. The four-year-old
Op/Ed
Australia: Isn’t it funny … how everyone is strata splaining managers?
Since the 2024 Strata Insurance Crisis broke 4 weeks ago strata managers are getting a lot of attention at the moment [good and bad] and that’s fine. But it seems to have prompted a lot of
Unhappy neighbors. Vacant lots. NC community for ‘patriots’ off to a rocky start
When developers launched 1776 Gastonia, the 55-plus housing community for “patriots,” in the Charlotte area last year, they said it was just the beginning of a “grassroots movement.” With street names like Paul Revere Drive and
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
Canada Condo, Strata & HOA News
Condo Smarts: No exemptions to change in depreciation reports (BC)
Dear Tony: How do the new changes to depreciation reports apply to smaller strata corporations like a bare land or townhouse strata of less than 25 units? We have very few items
Insurance fees skyrocket at Williams Lake’s Terra Ridge (BC)
Insurance for the Terra Ridge strata in Williams Lake has increased by almost four times since the city issued a state of local emergency for the neighbourhood due to a slow-moving slide
Insurance fees skyrocket at Williams Lake’s Terra Ridge (BC)
Insurance for the Terra Ridge strata in Williams Lake has increased by almost four times since the city issued a state of local emergency for the neighbourhood due to a slow-moving slide
Canada Condo, Strata & HOA Articles
What’s next for condominium insurance? Current realities and what condo boards can plan for (ON)
In recent years, we navigated a challenging insurance environment known as a “hard market”. This term describes a period when multiple factors make it more challenging to secure and maintain suitable insurance
The intricacies of EV infrastructure remain at odds with condo legislation (ON)
The electric vehicle landscape is complex, ever-changing and at the cutting edge of technology. For condominium corporations and their owners, this means that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Unfortunately, the current iteration
CAT Deals with Noise and Light from Traffic on Nearby Major Road (ON)
In the case of Taplin v. YRVLCC 1002, an owner in the vacant land condominium asserted that noise and light (from car headlights and streetlights) coming from a nearby major road were
International Condo, Strata & HOA News
Australia: Isn’t it funny … how everyone is strata splaining managers?
Since the 2024 Strata Insurance Crisis broke 4 weeks ago strata managers are getting a lot of attention at the moment [good and bad] and that’s fine. But it seems
Singapore: Bukit Timah condo ‘under attack’ by monkeys that enter homes and leave trail of destruction
Residents of Pine Grove condominium in Bukit Timah have been dealing with unwelcome visits by uninvited visitors. Stomper Sook Hui shared with Stomp that monkeys have been entering apartments and
Bahamas: DPM to monitor February Point, homeowners’ concerns
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, and Member of Parliament for Exuma Chester Cooper said he will monitor the progress of negotiations and conversations between the owners