Q: The 2022 budget for our association includes a line item for natural gas. It looks like the actual cost for the year is going to be substantially higher than the amount budgeted. Does the board have to obtain owner approval for this increase in expense? Read the Q&A……………………………….
Judge to rule on attempt to block record-breaking Chicago condo deconversion (IL)
The last stand is coming up for two Chicago condo owners seeking to block a record $190 million deal led by Yitzy Klor’s Strategic Properties of North America, one of the state’s most aggressive condo deconversion buyers. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condo association fees capped under new law (IL)
Condominium owners may soon see reduced fees thanks to a new law sponsored by State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel. “No one should have to pay excessive fees to get the documents required by law to sell their property,” said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). “This new law protects residents from exorbitant fees and will ensure that they […]
Calumet City declares local state of emergency in wake of devastating condo building fire (IL)
Calumet City Mayor Thaddeus Jones has declared a citywide state of emergency after a devastating fire ripped through a condo building this week and left 150 families displaced. Read the entire article……………………………….
Need a speaker for your HOA, neighborhood, club, non-profit or other group? (TX)
Need a speaker at your next HOA or club meeting? Harris County Precinct 4 has a Speakers Bureau that educates homeowners associations, neighborhood groups, nonprofits, clubs, and other residents about county government. Read the entire article……………………………….
Massive fire breaks out at Grand Bear Resort near Starved Rock in Utica (IL)
Several structures at the Grand Bear Resort near Starved Rock went up in flames Monday night, prompting multiple crews to help extinguish the blaze. The president of the resort’s homeowners association says the blaze has affected five buildings, each containing four residential units. At least 20 units are damaged. Read the entire article……………………………….
Cal City condo fire results in one death, multiple injuries (IL)
One resident died and four residents and three firefighters were injured in a fire Monday night in a 312-unit condominium building at 200 Park Ave. in the Park of River Oaks complex. Read the entire article……………………………….
Board discussion can’t be endless (IL)
Q: Our board has substantial discussion and debate about issues before we vote on an item. However, one of our board members frequently just won’t let an issue go when he disagrees with a vote of the board. This causes substantial delays in our board meetings. Is the board required to continue a discussion on […]
5 injured, 36 units left uninhabitable after Park Ridge condo fire (IL)
A late-night fire that swept through roof of a three-story, 36-unit condominium complex in Park Ridge Tuesday injured five people and left the entire building uninhabitable. Read the entire article……………………………….
Two Firefighters Hurt In Blaze At Springfield Condo Complex (IL)
Two Springfield firefighters have been hurt and three townhomes may be total losses after a fire at a condominium complex on the city’s south end. Read the entire article……………………………….
Mag Mile condo owners sue owner MetLife over cooling issues (IL)
MetLife, the New York insurer that took over the Mag Mile’s pricey Water Tower Place last month from Brookfield Property Partners, inherited something else: a lawsuit from condo owners. Read the entire article……………………………….
McHenry County property owners can remove illegal covenants from deeds (IL)
Homeowners who find illegal restrictive covenants on their property documents can easily have them removed under a new Illinois law, McHenry County Clerk and Recorder Joe Tirio said in a news release. Read the entire article……………………………….
Association documents must outline how to pay for window repairs (IL)
Q:?The windows in our condominium association are reaching the end of their useful life and need to be replaced. One of the board members contends the windows are limited common elements and that owners, not the association, are responsible for the replacement cost. Our declaration is completely silent on this. The board member claims this […]
Yes, owners can be evicted from units (IL)
Q. I recently moved to Illinois and, because of my prior experience on an association board, was persuaded to fill a vacancy on our condominium board. We had a discussion at our last board meeting about collection of unpaid assessments. Board members kept referring to “eviction proceedings.” Read the Q&A……………………………….
Association documents must outline how to pay for window repairs (IL)
Q:?The windows in our condominium association are reaching the end of their useful life and need to be replaced. One of the board members contends the windows are limited common elements and that owners, not the association, are responsible for the replacement cost. Our declaration is completely silent on this. The board member claims this […]
New floor must meet an ‘unspecified’ standard (IL)
Q: I am a board member of our condominium association and have been assigned the task of reviewing our rules for possible update. One of the rules states the underlayment for hard floor surfaces, like wood or ceramics, must meet standards established by the board. However, the board has never established any such standards. Should […]
City funds come to the rescue of ‘troubled buildings (IL)
The vintage condo building on Crandon Avenue in South Shore is in frightful straits. It needs at least $1.5 million to repair a crumbling facade and upgrade pipes. The homeowners association doesn’t have enough cash reserves to fund needed repairs. And the residents, mostly seniors on fixed incomes, are behind in paying monthly assessments. The […]
Engineering report lacks repair path for board (IL)
Q. An engineer inspected the balconies in our association, built in the 1980s. The engineer’s report was rather sparse. The report concludes there are construction defects with the spindles of the balconies that need to be corrected. Is there something we should be asking the engineer? Read the Q&A……………………………….
Illinois bill would require condo boards to give unit owners access to building records more quickly
A state senator who represents part of Chicago’s North Lakefront wants to improve access to building maintenance records for condo owners. In the wake of last year’s collapse of an oceanfront tower in South Florida, state Sen. Sara Feigenholtz wants the Illinois General Assembly to require condo boards to release any reserve study of required […]
In Illinois, there is a hodgepodge of homeowner groups
Q. What is the difference between a condominium association, a common interest community association and a master association? Read the Q&A……………………………….
1 In Critical Condition After Condo Fire In Westmont (IL)
One person was in critical condition after a fire tore through part of a multi-unit building on Pier Drive in Westmont early Wednesday. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condo fire displaces residents at Peoria’s Twin Towers (IL)
A condo fire led to an entire tower full of residents being displaced. Peoria firefighters were called to the Twin Towers in downtown around 5:00 o’clock Sunday night after a fire alarm was activated. Read the entire article……………………………….
Owners have final say in sale of entire property (IL)
Q: The board of our condominium association is speaking with a real estate broker about listing the entire condominium property for sale. I understand owner approval is needed to sell the entire condominium. Does the board need owner approval to hire a real estate broker to sell the entire property? Read the Q&A………………………………
Condo deconversion vultures still circling Chicago (IL)
The new wrinkle is investors hunting for troubled older condo buildings – to transform into lucrative rental properties – and attempting to buy out individual owners in such hot neighborhoods as Gold Coast, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, and South Loop. Read the entire article……………………………….
South Shore Building To Get Loan, Grant Money For Repairs As City Pilots Fund To Support Neighborhood’s Condos, Co-Ops (IL)
A pilot program to support condo owners and cooperative housing residents in South Shore will roll out in the coming weeks, city housing officials announced Thursday. The South Shore Condo/Co-Op Preservation Fund will provide grants for homeowners to repair their units in shared-ownership housing. It will also offer a mix of long-term loan and grant […]
Electric vehicles may require condo improvements (IL)
Q: Must a condominium association provide an electric vehicle charging station as an amenity to residents? Read the Q&A………………………………
How to update association rules (IL)
Q: A couple of board members have been tasked with updating the association’s rules. Can you describe some “best practices” we should employ in this undertaking? Read the Q&A…………………………………
New law allows gardens on unit owner’s property (IL)
Q: I live in a townhouse in a common interest community. Each individually owned townhouse lot has a spacious backyard. Are owners permitted to have a vegetable garden on their lots? Read the Q&A……………………………………..
It’s in owners best interest to fill board seats (IL)
Q: My association has had a tumultuous couple of years. As a result, we are having a very difficult time attracting candidates to run for the three-member board of our condominium, which is a nonprofit corporation. We might end up with only two people on the board. Can the board operate with less than three […]
Condo Adviser: Unsure if your condo association is operating appropriately? Here’s what to look for (IL)
Q. I live in a large, professionally managed condominium association and believe there are irregularities regarding the board’s administration of the association. Examples include disbursements of association funds and the approval of contracts without a board vote at a board meeting, and unit owners do not receive financial reports. What information is a unit owner […]
Charging-station bill stalls over provision on unions (IL)
Legislation has moved in Springfield designed to make owning electric vehicles more convenient, but it’s being held up by a provision involving union labor that opponents say could have “devastating” consequences. Read the entire article……………………………….
Fannie Mae now requires robust reserves (IL)
Q: Can you describe some of the key points of the new Fannie Mae condominium lender guidelines? Read the Q&A………………………………
Condo board can negotiate sale of building without unit owner approval, says appeals panel (IL)
Owners of units in a condominium in River North did not need to give formal approval before their association negotiated a possible sale of the building, according to a new ruling from a state appeals court. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condo owner class action targets RealManage, HomeWiseDocs for ‘unconscionable fees’ charged for owner documents (IL)
A group of Chicago condominium owners have launched another class action lawsuit over what they call “unconscionable fees” charged to condo owners to access documents they need to complete the sale of their units. Read the entire article……………………………….
Owners can serve on board prior to paying off unit (IL)
Q. I purchased a condominium unit from a relative some time ago, and I have been an active member and resident of the association. The purchase is being accomplished by an installment contract, so I won’t have a deed to the unit for several more years. The board has approached me about running for the […]
Trump Tower condo owners stand to receive $222,000 property tax refund from Chicago Public Schools (IL)
The Chicago Board of Education is slated Wednesday to vote on paying Trump Tower condominium owners about a quarter-million dollars after negotiating a property tax appeal from 2015. Read the entire article……………………………….
Illinois Q&A: Can board take action against dog’s owner?
Q: An owner’s dog has a history of attacking my dog on the condominium association’s common elements. These incidents have been captured on the association’s security camera. The association’s declaration has clear language about pets and nuisance. I have complained to the board about the owner’s violation of this covenant. The board’s response has been […]
Chicago’s aging condos now under Fannie Mae’s microscope
The 2021 high-rise condominium disaster in Florida soon will have an impact in the Windy City. Effective January 1, aging condo buildings in Chicago are under the regulatory microscope of Fannie Mae as a result of the tragic collapse of the Champlain South Tower in Surfside, Florida, which killed 98 people. Read the entire […]
Hot tub parties aggravate neighbors (IL)
Q: An owner installed a hot tub in the backyard of their home in our homeowners’ association. The owner likes to hold loud parties in the hot tub late into the evening and early hours of the morning. Read the Q&A……………………………….
Bill would require new residential buildings to be ready to accommodate EV charging (IL)
A measure before the General Assembly would require new and renovated residential or commercial buildings to set aside parking spaces that could easily be converted into electric vehicle charging stations. Read the entire article……………………………….
Some Illinois residents are using a new law to rid their property records of racist language
For $10, Illinois homeowners can pay to remove racist language from their property deeds that once proliferated in the 20th century. A new state law is now in effect, which allows individuals, condo associations and other property owners to request that their local county recorder get rid of illegal restrictive covenants. Read the entire […]
Fire Damages Condo Building In Woodridge (IL)
Firefighters battled a blaze that broke out in an 18-unit condo building in Woodridge early Friday. No residents or firefighters were injured in the fire, according to Lisle-Woodridge Fire District. Read the entire article……………………………….
State’s Attorney’s Office to Review Segregation Clauses That Remain in Some Home Covenants (IL)
A new law allowing homeowners to have racist clauses removed from covenants in their deeds went into effect Jan. 1, and Lake County’s first filing under the law occurred Tuesday. After being filed with the Recorder of Deeds Office, the request will now be reviewed by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office to ensure it […]
Condo Fire on Darlington Ln Near Virginia Rd in Crystal Lake (IL)
Firefighters arrived within four minutes, and upon arrival discovered smoke showing from a 2-story, 8-unit building. Smoke appeared to be coming from the second floor, but firefighters discovered the fire in a first floor kitchen. Read the entire article……………………………….
Architect Not Liable For Flawed Plans Submitted to Self-Certification Program (IL)
A Chicago ordinance that allows developers to bypass the usual plan review by city building officials by submitting self-certification from an architect did not give homeowners a right to take legal action against that architect after design flaws were discovered, an Illinois appellate court ruled. Read the entire article……………………………….
‘Working while Black’: White man tries to boot Liberty Mutual agent parked in his neighborhood in viral TikTok (IL)
In the video, Kaye states that the man drove past her car once before driving up a second time and approaching her. She says he told her she was parked on a private road, and she responded stating that she was there on business. “Working While Black,” Kaye captioned the TikTok via on-screen text. When […]
President can resign office, yet stay on board (IL)
Q: The president of the board of directors of our condominium has mentioned she may resign as president because of the increasing demands of her regular, full-time job. Can she resign as president and remain on the board, or must she resign from the board as well? Read the Q&A……………………………………..
Algonquin seeks to obtain vacant land from condo association through eminent domain (IL)
Algonquin officials are battling with leaders of a community of condo homes about how much the village should pay to acquire almost 3 acres of land meant for storm water drainage. Read the entire article……………………………….
Appeals panel: IL condo law lets condo owners sue management companies over excessive document fees (IL)
A state appeals panel has ruled condominium owners can initiate class actions against agents of homeowner associations they believe charged excessive fees to owners seeking documents they are required by law to provide to buyers when they sell their condo units. Read the entire article……………………………….