Six people were displaced from their homes in Fairfax County, Virginia, Monday after a fire that officials said was started by a child with a lighter. Read the entire article……………………………….
No Hot Water Issue Returns for Some Lake Anne Plaza Condo Units (VA)
Ongoing lack of hot water is an issue again for nearly all condominium owners at the 27-unit, mixed-use Quayside building located at Lake Anne Village Center in Reston. Frustrated condo owners fear another four-month struggle, similar to Quayside’s first no-hot-water experience. That episode began with declining water temperatures in the fall of 2020 that reached […]
Homeowners Association in Virginia Bans 2 Boys From Swimming Pool
A homeowners association in Virginia punished two boys by banning them from the community’s swimming pool. The Kingsbrooke HOA in Bristow issued a no trespass order for the boys’ role in damaging a library in October. Read the entire article……………………………….
Judge rules against Stanardsville mayor, another resident, in Dogwood Valley case (VA)
Last month, a judge in the 16th Judicial Circuit upheld a 2019 decision ruling that two Greene County men are personally liable regarding actions taken by a homeowner’s association in Greene. Read the entire article……………………………….
Buckner Farm residents vote to lower quarterly fees and pause a multi-million dollar project in neighborhood (VA)
10 On Your Side has a follow-up in a battle between a homeowners’ association and the neighbors it represents. Last November, we reported on Buckner Farm Homeowners Association’s plan to increase quarterly dues to pay for cracks in concrete aprons surrounding seven retention ponds. Neighbors are fighting back to keep fees down, and to pause […]
Redefining an HOA Retirement Community
Retirement means everything but slowing down at the Jefferson in Arlington, Va., a vibrant senior community where residents are thrilled to age in place. To celebrate National Senior Health and Fitness Day, we highlight the Jefferson, which was built nearly three decades ago as one of Marriott International’s senior-living services communities. Read the entire article……………………………….
Judge rules against Stanardsville mayor, another resident, in Dogwood Valley case (VA)
Last month, a judge in the 16th Judicial Circuit upheld a 2019 decision ruling that two Greene County men are personally liable regarding actions taken by a homeowner’s association in Greene. Read the entire article……………………………….
Former head of Lighthouse Properties in Campbell County pleads guilty to wire fraud (VA)
On Wednesday in federal court, Tim Penick, the former head of Lighthouse Properties in Campbell County, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Penick admitted, as part of a plea deal, that he stole money from an area homeowners’ association which was just one client among many that Penick is accused of stealing from through Lighthouse Properties […]
Virginia law cleared a path for condo owners to install charging stations
As an engineer, Wael Ali is hard-wired to find a way around. While others lament the seemingly impenetrable stone walls of bureaucracy, the northern Virginia condominium owner schemes to rearrange those rocks into a gateway. Read the entire article……………………………….
Neighbors come together following condo fire in Norfolk (VA)
Neighbors are picking up the pieces following a devastating condo fire in Norfolk. Anne Heywood’s cats were the first thing that came to mind. She has three, and a warning from a neighbor sent her into a mad dash for the felines. Read the entire article……………………………….
2 people rushed to hospital after jumping from top floor of burning Norfolk condo building (VA)
Two people had to jump from the top floor to escape a massive condo fire early Thursday morning in Norfolk. Dispatchers say they were notified around 3 a.m. for the fire in the 4600 block of Mayflower Road, at the Lafayette Cove Condominiums in the Colonial Place neighborhood. Read the entire article……………………………….
Crews respond to overnight condo fire near Buckroe Beach area in Hampton (VA)
Hampton Fire & Rescue responded to a condo fire that occurred at 120 Atlantic Ave. Officials said no one was hurt from the fire. Read the entire article……………………………….
Yet Another Rule Modification From Governor On In-person Meetings (VA)
The recent Fourth Amendment to Governor Northam’s COVID related Executive Order, effective as of April 1, 2021, has updated the limitations for private in-person gatherings. Read the entire article……………………………….
Chesdin Landing homeowners sue over assessments to fund golf course (VA)
A dispute over assessments charged to homeowners in Chesdin Landing to help fund the neighborhood’s privately owned golf course is playing out in court, with an initial round going to its developer and board of directors. Read the entire article……………………………….
Spring cleaning: a checklist for condos (VA)
The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and the flowers are blooming. Are you feeling the spring-cleaning bug? It’s the perfect time to shake off the winter blues by freshening up your home, performing some preventative maintenance, and getting organized and ready to enjoy the warmer months. Read the entire article……………………………….
Raise mailboxes to proper height, post office advises (VA)
Residents of Blue Ridge Shores and nearby neighborhoods received a strongly-worded advisory in their mailboxes earlier this month, warning them to make sure the boxes are not too low to the ground. Read the article………………………………….
Investigation: Fight for light between homeowners and associations over solar power, despite new law (VA)
In a power struggle involving a family in Chesapeake, there’s hardly a ray of hope that it won’t result in a lawsuit. Will Rivera says he wants to save some money and help save the environment. He wants to install solar panels on his roof in the Edinburgh community in Chesapeake. Rivera got a one-sentence […]
23 homeless after 2-alarm fire at attached condos in Willoughby Spit (VA)
A fire that began Monday morning in the middle of an Ocean View condominium complex spread quickly. The Norfolk fire department reported no injuries but the fire displaced the 23 residents. Read the article………………………………………….
School System, HOA Bring in USDA to Chase Out Vultures (VA)
Broadlands Association General Manager Sarah Gerstein said the HOA consulted with the USDA only after Read the article………………………………….“numerous complaints” from residents and local businesses.
How do you know if your condo or homeowners association is well-managed? Here are some tips (VA)
How do you know if your homeowners or condominium association is being successfully managed? It can sometimes be hard to determine if a community with an association is being run well. Read the article……………………………………….
Condo Smoking Bill Passes in Virginia
Thank you to the ARLnow reader who brought Virginia House Bill 1842 to my attention because it’s likely to be a game-changing law. This bill will allow condo boards to more easily ban smoking inside units and on balconies — not just in common areas. As of Feb. 17, 2021, the bill passed the Virginia […]
Virginia sets example for fair HOA solar policy
Residential solar contractors encounter plenty of speed bumps in the process from sales to installation, whether that’s tire-kickers, financing issues or logistical delays. Working with a client who lives in a homeowners association (HOA) subdivision could cost installers much more time and money. In the worst-case scenario, it can even lead to cancelled contracts. Read […]
The Madness of Trust and Betrayal in Reston (VA)
It’s a losing game in the long run for any condo association to postpone needed maintenance on their buildings or make band-aid fixes. It’s also not best practices for a condo association to dip into their coffers, funded by members, to pay for millions of billable gallons of Fairfax County water leaking into the ground. […]
12 Fairfax County Condos Go Almost Three Months Without Hot Water (VA)
A dozen condos in one Fairfax County, Virginia, community have gone without hot water for almost three months, and homeowners association fees haven’t let up. The Lake Anne of Reston condos have signs hanging from balconies counting the days since residents have been without hot water. Read the article……………………………………..
Frustrations Boil Over As Lake Anne Residents Grapple With No Hot Water Since Dec. 1 (VA)
Since Dec. 1, Robin Jordan warms water in two large stock pots, waits for the water to heat up, and crouches over the pots in her shower to give herself a bath with a washcloth. “We have no idea what’s going on,” Jordan, said. That’s because between 20 units — twelve condominium units and eight […]
Long-awaited Timber Lake dredge date approaches, new tax in effect for residents (VA)
By mid-March, Timberlake residents hope to see the beginning of a dredging process — a long-awaited, much-fought-for effort to save Timber Lake from decades of damage and compounded sedimentation that threatens its health. After a referendum held in November 2019, the Timberlake Watershed Improvement District acquired the power to tax its residents, and recently set […]
Modernizing HOA Law or Exploiting a Crisis? (VA)
“Never let a good crisis go to waste.” -Winston Churchill. The Virginia General Assembly is currently in session. One interesting bill to Virginia homeowners is 2021 HB1816. This bill seeks to amend the Property Owners Association Act and Virginia Condominium Act regarding the use of “electronic means” for meetings and voting. Making videoconference a larger […]
Multiple residents evacuate following condo fire in Virginia Beach (VA)
Three condos are suffering damage after one caught on fire Saturday morning. The Virginia Beach Fire Department was called on Saturday, Jan. 16 around 1:58 a.m. to a multifamily fire on the 2200 block of Savona Quay in The Crescent Condos. Read the article…………………………………
Heritage Square Owners, Residents Press for Greater HOA Transparency (VA)
A group of property owners and residents in Leesburg’s Heritage Square condominium neighborhood are calling for an annual meeting to be held for the first time in years, saying they are hopeful that 2021 will move them closer to resolution with their HOA board of directors. Read the article………………………………
One Board, Two Sycamores, Three Concerns in Reston (VA)
Two Reston sycamore trees at Lake Anne Village Center appear to be a concern to certain people, but for three different reasons. Their unease involves Reston’s flagship characteristics, its tree canopy, lakes, and public art. Apparent consternation for some residents at Heron House is that the sycamores block lake views. According to the Morton Arboretum, […]
Unattended cooking causes condo fire in McLean (VA)
Arriving units found smoke showing from the front door of a two-story, middle-unit condominium. Crews located a fire in the kitchen and quickly extinguished it. There were no reported civilian or firefighter injuries. Read the article……………………………….
Looking ahead to 2021, common interest community service (VA)
Happy (almost) New Year! We think that we can all agree that we are ready to say “goodbye” to 2020 and “hello” to 2021! Like everyone else, we are looking forward to new and exciting things in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic has had us adjusting our personal and professional lives. Our homes have become so […]
Leaky roof, wet walls, constant complaining, endless ignoring: Life according to a Virginia Beach condo owner (VA)
The floor is buckling due to water damage. He and his wife can’t even go on vacations because they fear water damage while they are gone, and they want to be there in case it happens again. “This has gone on for four years… We’re tired of it… They aren’t listening to us,” McLeod said. […]
Unhappy with the way your HOA is run? Here’s what you can do to improve the board.
Q: I wanted to comment on your recent column relating to the use of a homeowners association (HOA) pool during [the pandemic]. Halfway through your answer you wrote, “You and your fellow residents voted in the board and they represent you.” Read the article…………………………………
Following resident complaints to 10 on Your Side, HOA fee hike in Buckner Farms may not happen (VA)
Last week, 10 On Your Side received a number of messages from people living in the Buckner Farm section of the city. We reported that retention ponds in the neighborhood need costly upgrades, and the HOA says it needs to more than double the fees they are getting to make the repairs. Read the article………………………………
Virginia Neighborhood May Have to Remove ‘Hate Has No Home Here’ Signs
Some residents of a Gainesville, Virginia, subdivision displaying signs that read “Hate Has No Home Here” are worried they might have to remove the signs. Late last summer, a Hispanic family was the target of a profane rant in which a woman told them to “go back to your country.” Read the article…………………………………..
Neighbors wait for washed out road to be fixed (VA)
A washed out road in Amherst County is causing stress for neighbors on the other side. Waking up Thursday morning, neighbors say they were shocked to see half their road in the creek. Read the article……………………
‘Outrageous’ letter urges Chesterfield families who support Black Lives Matter to move (VA)
Several Chesterfield families who support Black Lives Matter and Democratic candidates received anonymous letters urging them to move out……In 2017, Hallsley at Midlothian was nationally awarded the Best Community in America, according to the community’s website. CBS 6 reached out to the homeowner’s association for a comment, but they haven’t responded as of Friday afternoon. […]
Condo residents sue Virginia Beach over proposed high rise that would block their view of the Chesapeake Bay (VA)
Two condo associations have sued the city and a senior living community over a proposed high-rise building that will threaten neighbors’ view of the Chesapeake Bay. The residents of Ocean Shore Condominium Association and Ships Watch Condominium Owners’ Association filed the lawsuit last week, one month after the the Virginia Beach City Council approved the […]
Condo Board Objects to Decorative Cemetery for ‘Hate’ and ‘Racism’ (VA)
Two residents of the Fairlington Arbor condominiums were told by the condo board to dig up their spooky gravestones that seek to lay bigotry to rest. Katrina Reed and her husband Joe decked out their yard with six decorative gravestones, but they papered over the space for names of the deceased to bury hate, racism, […]
Condominiums, residents sue Virginia Beach over Westminster-Canterbury’s building expansion (VA)
Two condominium companies and two residents filed a lawsuit against the City of Virginia Beach, concerning an expansion of the Westminster-Canterbury retirement community building. The companies and complainants said their sunlight, ocean view and privacy would be impacted by the new, approved structure – and the suit claims the 22-story building near Shore Drive would […]
Condo living has its own challenges when it comes to fire safety. Here is a prevention checklist. (VA)
October is Fire Safety Month, with Fire Prevention Week beginning Sunday, Oct. 4, and ending on Saturday, Oct.10. Since 1922, the National Fire Protection Association has run an annual campaign to help educate the public on fire safety in effort to reduce the number of deaths caused by fire. Read the article…………………………..
An ex-police officer fought with his next-door neighbor over trash and dog poop. It ended in an alleged ‘execution.’ (VA)
The feud between next-door neighbors in Northern Virginia began over issues as common as cul-de-sacs in the suburbs — unscooped dog poop, loud music and messy garbage cans. But over years the ordinary neighborhood dispute spiraled out of control, building to the moment this spring when Javon Prather rang Michael Hetle’s doorbell. Hetle, a 52-year-old […]
Improper disposal of smoking material sets Merrifield condo alight (VA)
Units arrived to find fire showing from a third-floor deck of a four-story condominium building. Crews quickly extinguished the fire and contained it to the condo’s exterior. No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported, officials said. Read the article…………………………….
Inadequate Internet Service Rouses Ire of Captain’s Cove Residents (VA)
A crowd of around 70 — socially distanced and wearing masks — filled the Greenbackville fire hall Thursday, Sept. 10, to voice concerns about inadequate internet service in Captain’s Cove. Read the article………………………………..
General Assembly Relaxes HOA Meeting Rules (VA)
A change to state law governing homeowners’ association board meetings allowing them to take COVID-19 pandemic precautions may have also made it easier for HOA residents to get involved. Read the article………………………………
Back to school for owners and associations provides opportunity to learn something new about community (VA)
As summer draws to a close, we venture into back-to-school season. Teachers, parents and students begin preparing for the new school year, both virtually and in-person. We often think that school season is only for one of these categories, but it’s also the perfect time for homeowners association board members and homeowners to learn something […]
Virginia veteran wins fight with homeowners’ association over flying American flag
A Marine veteran ended up in the middle of a battle he did not expect to be fighting in Virginia: a battle to fly the U.S. flag. Richard Jenkins’ homeowners’ association (HOA) initially wanted him to not only take down his 20-foot flagpole, but the American flag along with it. Read the article…………………………..
‘There were no rules:’ Veteran fights homeowners association to keep American flag & pole (VA)
When Richard Jenkins’ son gave him an American flag for Father’s Day, Jenkins had no idea the controversy it would stir……..But Jenkins said the Willow Shade Homeowners’ Association wants him to take the flag down from a 20-foot pole he put in a planter in his front yard. Read the article………………………….