A condominium complex in Margate has become the first in the state to install ultraviolet light sanitizing technology, according to a news release. Read the article…………………………………
Invasion Of Privacy? Police Catching More Criminals With Community License Plate Reader Cameras (CA)
Vacaville Police tracked down yet another stolen vehicle out of Stockton and made another arrest with the help of community cameras equipped with License Plate Recognition or LPR cameras. Read the article…………………………………
Tips for reviewing cable service provider agreements (MI)
In 2009, 87.8% of American households had either a cable or satellite TV subscription; however, by the end of 2019, that number dropped to just 65.3% of American households, as more American households “cut the cord” and turned to internet-based TV subscriptions, such as Netflix, Hulu and YouTube TV. With this steep drop in cable […]
Installing License Plate Readers in HOAs
Some homeowners associations are installing license plate readers, a new frontier of private surveillance that raises questions about privacy, data, and liability. Read the article…………………………….
Keeping Association Management Data Safe From Unauthorized Users
Data protection is important for any business. When you’re an association manager, it’s vital to protect your clients’ data to earn the continued trust of clients and to retain their business. Managing a homeowner association (HOA) or condominium association (COA) requires you to process a lot of private, personal information about your clients and the […]
Considering Hosting Virtual Meetings? Look No Further! (FL)
Watch out Silicon Valley, there is a new group of virtual gatherers in town! From small, collaborative style meetings to large, full-scale board meetings, Associations across all demographics are effectively using virtual meetings to accomplish their goals. Because of this widespread success, many of our Campbell Managed Properties are looking to use virtual meetings as […]
An introduction to virtual meetings Date Published: March 27, 2020
Virtual meetings connect people who, for whatever reason, cannot be in the same physical location. Attendees can use audio or video to communicate in real time. Many conferencing platforms have even developed a phone app so that people can stay connected without having to be in front of a computer. Read the article…………………………….
Should Your HOA Install LicensePlate Cameras? (MI)
It is estimated that at least 400,000 neighborhoods throughout the United States have installed automated license plate readers. Automated license plate readers are high-speed cameras that are mounted on street poles, streetlights, entrances, gatehouses or other areas in which automobiles will enter or exit a condominium or subdivision. Automated license plate readers can be an […]
Livingston Parish subdivision installs state of the art technology aimed at preventing crime (LA)
At the three entrances of the Spring Lake subdivision, drivers may or may not know that new devices are keeping track of who comes and goes. “They’re motion-activated cameras,” Spring Lake resident, Greg Bunch said. “They work day or night and basically anything moving through these entrances is picked up.” There is nothing standard about […]
Data Breach Prevention
Data leaks and hacks are happening every day. From a small business to a Fortune 500 company, chances are your private information was subject to a leak or a hack and you might not even know it. Moreover. you might not be aware what type of information these companies have of yours. Imagine all of […]
Neighborhoods installing license plate reader cameras (NC)
More and more neighborhoods in and around Charlotte are now using the same kind of high-tech cameras police rely on to track down criminals. Flock Safety said more than a dozen neighborhoods, over half of them outside the Charlotte city limits, are investing in license plate reader cameras. Read the article………………………
Is Your Co-op’s or Condo’s Data Safe? (NY)
Cybersecurity experts agree that surprisingly few co-op and condo boards or their property managers treat personally identifiable information (PII) with the care it deserves. Social Security, bank account, and credit card numbers, plus email addresses and passwords, are all things criminals can exploit. Read the article…………………………
Communities, Cars, and Cameras: Automated License Plate Readers in Associations (IL)
Condominium, homeowner, and townhome associations have traditionally relied upon security gates as the sole means of controlling vehicular access to their communities. While a gatehouse that is staffed 24/7 may provide residents with a sense of security and grandeur, the relatively low cost, efficiency, reliability and increased capabilities associated with implementing new Automated License Plate […]
When does protection trump privacy in condo communities? (VA)
I remember the very first time I walked up to a home with a video doorbell camera a couple of years ago. While intercoms of some sort go way back in time, it was a rather strange feeling talking to someone I knew could see me, but I couldn’t see them. Welcome to 2020! I […]
Tips to Protect Your HOA from a Data Breach
If you’re like most association board members, you probably think you have a good handle on potential risks the association might face. Concerns such as injuries from accidents, disputes among neighbors, and potential lawsuits against board members may top that list. But there’s a risk too many people overlook: data security. Read the article…………………….
Privacy Rights, Confidentiality, and Data Security for homeowners’ associations
With the current prevalence of identity theft, it’s not surprising that data protection has become a significant concern of homeowners when entrusting their information to a Homeowners’ Association (HOA). And privacy should likewise be a chief concern of HOA boards. Associations, and particularly their board members, are regularly entrusted with homeowners’ sensitive, confidential materials, often […]
Resolving Satellite Dish Location Disputes: Sastin 2, LLC V Hemingway Association, Inc.
Homeowner associations often seek to exercise architectural control over exterior structures within their communities which impact community aesthetics. For some issues, however, an association’s concern over the form of a structure potentially impacts its function creating a conflict between the interest of the association and the interest of the owner seeking to install the structure. […]
Few companies are prepared for upcoming data privacy regulations
Many companies that handle user data are not prepared for the upcoming California privacy law that is being compared with the European Union’s GDPR regulation. According to privacy technology firm Ethyca, as many as 88% of these companies have not reached “an adequate state of compliance” ahead of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which […]
Making the Switch to E-Voting: A Primer for Condominium Associations (FL)
In 2015, the Florida Legislature adopted Section 718.128 into the Florida Statutes, thereby giving condominium associations the right to conduct elections and other unit owner votes via online voting systems. While many associations in Florida have implemented online voting systems for their elections and other unit owner votes, some associations are still contemplating making the […]
Looking to combat crime, H.B. gated community turns to license plate reading cameras (CA)
In the increasingly high-tech world of home security, one Huntington Beach gated community is pushing the envelope on a neighborhood scale. Seabridge Villas, located near the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Adams Avenue, has installed license plate reading cameras to document the comings and goings at the condominium complex, which is home to 344 residents. […]
‘It’s a peace of mind’: Ortega homeowner pleased with license plate readers (FL)
For two years, one Ortega neighborhood has used license plate readers to track who has been going in and out of the area bringing some residents a peace of mind. “Prior to the cameras, we had nothing at all other than you know your eyeballs, we just wanted to have something on film that would […]
Why electronic voting is clicking with condo owners (ON)
An easy solution to the problem of owner apathy in condominium buildings, and a simple way to encourage interest and participation, is to introduce electronic voting. Read the article……………………..
The Law and Emerging Technology – Why developers should be careful about using untested technology in buildings
In 2015, the developer behind Brickell House, a 46-story condo tower in Miami’s financial district made the news as a brand new $16 million robotic car garage that was supposed to retrieve cars in under ten minutes went haywire and became inoperable. Condo owners were forced to find new places to park and they responded […]
HOA installs license plate readers at Riverview neighborhood entrance (FL)
A Riverview neighborhood is using new technology they say will prevent crime, but some say it’s an invasion of their privacy. Cameras were installed in April to capture the license plates of vehicles coming and going from the Paddock Oaks neighborhood. Read the article………………………..
License Plate Surveillance Expands to Escondido Neighborhood (CA)
An advanced surveillance system is expanding in San Diego County, with its latest home in the Kent Ranch neighborhood of Escondido. The system, Flock Safety, uses cameras atop light poles to collect images and data from the license plates of cars driving by, including plate number, vehicle type, color, and the time the information was […]
Maintaining Proper Records: Keeping a Digital Paper Trail (NY)
It is essential that a community association keep careful records of its financials, rules, and meeting minutes, just to name a few of the kinds of records boards and managers must stay on top of. Not solely because the law often requires it – although of course that’s important – but because an association that […]
Hermitage neighborhood installs license plate readers to catch criminals (TN)
So far this year, more than 2,100 cars have been broken into in Nashville, according to Metro Police. Jeremy Gossett, a Hermitage resident for nearly 20 years, noticed Nashville’s changing landscape and decided to do something about securing Hermitage Meadows. He is also on the board of directors. Read the article………………………..
Surveillance Cameras and HOAs: What residents need to know
Q: Read the article……………………….Our board refuses to circulate images captured on surveillance cameras of trespassers who hop locked pedestrian gates or tailgate cars to get into the garage. Many of us want these images in case we see the intruders or their vehicles in the future. Can the board appoint a volunteer committee of residents […]
Hercules Neighborhood Installs License Plate Surveillance Cameras To Deter Crime (CA)
A neighborhood in the East Bay city of Hercules has installed new surveillance equipment to deter crime. And even though they don’t have a lot of crime, residents are determined to keep it that way. On Camden Lane and Kensington Circle in the city’s Coventry neighborhood, there are plenty of signs to remind residents of […]
License plate cameras may be watching your Tampa Bay neighborhood (FL)
Atlanta-based Flock Safety has provided 14 area communities with high-speed, high-definition cameras for surveillance. Read the article………………………..
6 Things Your HOA Needs to Know About Biometric Technology
Biometric technology is steadily growing in popularity in many areas, including many HOAs. This technology offers a number of advantages, including the ability to more tightly control access to common areas in your community. Unfortunately, biometric technology also comes with a number of challenges, including the fact that not every member of your community is […]
Loomis community takes crime fighting into their own hands (CA)
The Sierra de Montserrat Community is doing what it can to help police and deter criminals. Community leaders installed license plate readers that capture the license plates of people going in and out of the neighborhood. The data can also help catch speeders and possibly stolen vehicles. Read the article……………………….
CAI Urges FCC to Improve Competitive Broadband in Community Associations
According to the FCC, an important part of closing the digital divide is promoting high-speed broadband access for the millions of Americans who live and work in apartments, condominiums, and office buildings, which the commission calls multiple tenant environments (MTEs). Read the article………………
Can an owner in a homeowners’ association install security cameras?
After recent break-ins, a homeowner who lives in a homeowners’ association wants to install surveillance cameras outside his home and in the association-owned common areas. What should he know before putting in cameras? Read the article………………………..
License plate cameras watching McCalla neighborhood (AL)
License plate readers once meant to help law enforcement are now popping up in neighborhoods here in Alabama. Drivers are now on notice in Letson Farms. A few months ago, the homeowners association installed two Flock safety license plate reading cameras to take pictures of cars coming into the McCalla subdivision. Read the article………………………
A Miami Neighborhood Divided Over Unregulated Surveillance Technology (FL)
Surveillance technology is getting cheaper and easier to access. That goes for the police, but it also goes for private citizens. A neighborhood in the City of Miami has been divided over how they should be using technologies like virtual fence. Read the article…………………….
Rights of residents for providing email addresses (FL)
Q: Does the president of a condominium association have the rights to the email addresses of all its residents for emailing information to the residents? We do not have a community newsletter and the only one who I was told has the rights to all email addresses is the property manager, who is a paid […]
New Laws Spurring Fla. Community Associations to Implement E-Voting, Websites
Technology has been the focus of many recent changes to Florida laws, including those that now allow community associations to implement electronic voting and require condominium associations with 150 units or more to have a website containing digital copies of certain official records. Read the article…………………………..
Navigating the Hidden Risks of Homeowner Security Devices
As security technology becomes less expensive and more accessible to average consumers, homeowners are provided with an exponential increase in available options for exterior security devices. A cursory Amazon search reveals hundreds of such devices including motion sensor lights and home camera offerings that can be accessed remotely from the convenience of one’s smart phone. […]
Neighborhoods use new tech to curb crime (TX)
Many homeowners use surveillance cameras to curb crime, but now some neighborhoods are using more advanced technology that can not only record footage but can also bank that footage into searchable software. Helen Cronenberger, president of her local Homeowner’s Association, says her neighborhood started looking into surveillance cameras, hoping to curb crime. Read the article…………………..
DING-DONG – WHERE HAS YOUR PRIVACY GONE? RINGTM VIDEO DOORBELLS IN CONDOMINIUMS
If you have heard of the Ring™ Video Doorbell, then you have likely heard and/or read about its promise of bringing security to answering one’s front door and reducing crime in neighborhoods. It makes sense, doesn’t it? The idea that by placing this product outside your front door and connecting the device to your smartphone, […]
Colorado neighborhoods using license plate readers to reduce crime, raising privacy concerns
It’s not your typical neighborhood fixture, but people who live in the Bel Air Estates in Aurora believe the two towering light poles that stand watch over the entrance to their community will help keep it safe. Read the article………………………….“It’s the world’s first tool built for neighborhoods to solve crime,” said Garrett Langley, Founder and […]
What is Smart Irrigation & Why Your HOA Should Invest in This Latest Technology
Advances in smart home technology provide convenience while at the same time saving you money and helping the environment. This technology is especially useful when it comes to landscaping and green spaces. Part of the growing Internet of Things (IoT) that connect devices to the internet, systems such as Smart Irrigation Controllers can help the […]
HOA Homefront: Two views on antennae sprouting atop rooftops (CA)
Q: I am in an HOA of free-standing homes. Our CC&Rs require that satellite dishes cannot be visible from common areas or HOA streets. Yet, several members have installed small dishes, less than 36 inches across, on their own property, visible from common areas and HOA streets. I registered my complaint, but the management company […]
Are HOAs Holding Back the Next Wave of American Tech?
Suppose you have a small satellite dish installed in your property, similar to the millions found on the homes of satellite TV subscribers across America. A local zoning official knocks on your door and gives you a copy of an ordinance requiring that you pay a fee and receive a permit to have the dish. […]
Online Election Options for Homeowner Associations and Condo Communities
All in favor, say “Aye”! If only the process of electing community association directors were that simple! Depending on the size and complexity of your association, you may find the proper handling and record keeping requirements of annual elections to be a significant burden. Did you know there are a myriad of online election tools […]
Technologies can enhance community association efficiency, productivity
No one can accuse community association managers or their accounting teams of being lazy. Managing requests from thousands of homeowners in the communities they serve can leave these employees drained and searching for more hours in a day. No computer program or mobile app can actually increase the number of hours in a day. But, […]
Cyber and Data Security in Colorado Common Interest Communities (CO)
As banks, credit card companies, and financial service providers grapple with identify theft, so too must HOAs. Over the last several years, there has been a substantial increase in cyber-related crimes, resulting in increased identity theft and financial fraud. As a result, federal and state governments have been working to enact laws to reduce crime […]