Disaster Planning & Management for Condominium & Homeowner Associations

How to Save on Emergency Supplies – Disaster Prep on a Budget

• ‘You broke us.’ GA lawmakers to rein in aggressive HOAs after hearing homeowner horror stories
  HOA nightmares are one of the most frequent calls into the Channel 2 Action News investigative tipline. Now there are new bipartisan efforts by state lawmakers to look at how to rein in homeowner associations that go too far.  Read the article…………………………….Channel 2 consumer investigator Justin Gray looked into how an HOA can take your ...
• Homeowners fund their own fire prevention efforts using an aggressive team of goats in a volatile canyon (CA)
  Homeowners in the Eucalyptus Hill Improvement Association (EHIA) have brought in a herd of goats to begin reducing the fire dangers in a canyon that could be explosive in a wildland fire.  The EHIA said its 700 members want to get ahead of the wildfire dangers this year as they have before, in this very ...
• Hurricane Preparedness: Beyond the Basics (FL)
  As Floridians, the dance of hurricane prep is an annual occurrence. From June to November, vigilance cannot wane as we keep our eyes on the tropics and our hurricane kits ready. But as a seasoned property management company in Florida, we’ve learned that there’s more to hurricane preparedness than just the standard checklist. Let’s delve ...
• Uncovering Asbestos During Condo Refurbishment: Navigating Challenges and Options (ON)
  Embarking on a major refurbishment project for a condominium is an exciting endeavor, promising revitalized spaces and enhanced living experiences for residents. However, amidst the renovation excitement, the discovery of asbestos can present a significant hurdle, requiring careful navigation and decisive action. Here, we explore the implications of finding asbestos during condo refurbishment, along with ...
• Enhancing Condo Aesthetics: Window Replacement vs. Repainting Considerations (ON)
  In the realm of condominium maintenance and improvement, decisions regarding windows and exterior aesthetics are crucial for maintaining property value and resident satisfaction. However, determining whether to replace windows or repaint them requires careful consideration of several factors unique to condo living. Here, we explore when it’s advisable to replace windows and when repainting is ...
• Big Changes to Condo Record Laws (FL)
  If the association is still doing things the old fashioned way and making deposits by filling out a deposit slip and going inside to see the teller, that deposit receipt issued by that teller is now an official record of the association and unit owners are entitled to see it.   Read the article…………………………….
• Refund Rights Run with Title (FL)
  Q: My condominium association board assessed seven thousand dollars per unit right after the Hurricane Ian in 2022, which I paid. The board has now decided they do not need the funds and have voted to return them to the owners. I sold my condo unit after the refund decision was made, but before the ...
• Some Arizona property deeds contain racist restrictions. A new law seeks to nullify them
  Dianne Post didn’t believe it until she saw it, right there in the deed to her central Phoenix home.  “Sure enough, on page 13 there it is: ‘This property may only be sold only to Caucasians’,” Post said, reading from her paperwork.  Racially based restrictions on property sales are unenforceable. But a new law that ...
• CINC Systems launches Cephai, the CAM Industry’s First GenAI Solution
  CINC Systems, the leading provider of software solutions for the community association management (CAM) industry, announced the launch of Cephai (pronounced see-fee-i), a revolutionary generative artificial intelligence platform with the ability to answer common homeowner questions. Breaking new ground in the CAM space, Cephai is set to transform how homeowners and community managers interact, making ...
• HOA rejects own committee’s recommendation (AZ)
  How does the Ahwatukee Board of Management spell diversion, set-up and please let us ignore you further? C-O-M-M-I-T-T-E-E.  Last spring my Center Court neighbors and I started getting letters threatening $200 “attorney’s fees” for doing what many of us have done for 20 years – park an extra car on the public street in front ...
• Neighborhood dispute has HOA calling foul on youth ball field in East Sarasota (FL)
  The president of a Sarasota homeowners’ association is calling foul on a church’s youth baseball field where he says lights were installed without proper permits and county officials refuse to enforce regulations.  After investigating the alleged violations, County officials dispute that they ignored zoning and building codes.   Read the article…………………………….
• Effort to limit lawsuits over construction errors — and in turn boost Colorado condominium construction — fails at Capitol
  An effort to encourage condominium construction in Colorado by reducing the chance of lawsuits over building errors failed in a state House committee Friday evening, a sign of how complicated and politically fraught the issue is. Senate Bill 106, the so-called construction defects bill, was unanimously rejected by the House Transportation, Housing and Local Government ...
• New Hawai‘i law aimed at tackling illegal short-term rentals, provides counties with home rule authority
  Gov. Josh Green touts it as a pivotal tool to tackle Hawai‘i’s housing crisis. Opponents say it doesn’t even address the real causes of the housing shortage.  No matter which side you’re on, it’s significant for the state’s short-term rental industry.  Green on Friday signed Senate Bill 2919 into law. The bill is aimed at ...
• Essential Guide to Understanding Your HOA Board of Directors
  HOAs play a crucial role in maintaining residential communities, ensuring they operate smoothly and preserve property values. Central to the functioning of an HOA is its Board of Directors, comprised of volunteers elected by members of the association (owners). This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding HOA board members’ roles and responsibilities.  Read the article…………………………….
• Californians are Protecting Themselves from Wildfire. Why is there still an Insurance Crisis?
  Fire officials, lawmakers, insurance agents and others are asking homeowners to help lower the risk of devastating wildfires by making improvements to their properties — in some cases at great expense — and often in the context of trying to hang on to their insurance policies. The state has spent about $3.7 billion on forest ...
• No peace symbol! Eagle Crest HOA cracks down on unauthorized flags (OR)
  No peace symbols. That’s the message one man in Eagle Crest got from his homeowner’s association in what he calls a newly enforced ban on most flags.  Ken Bauman was notified this week his tie-dyed peace symbol flag did not meet the requirements, in a letter sent from The Ridge at Eagle Crest Owners Association. ...
• Delray Beach HOA Goes To Real Court Over Sport Court (FL)
  The Delray Beach gated community of Casabella is suing a Palm Beach County sport court installation company which allegedly took the community’s money and ran. Sport Surfaces of 7011 Wilson Road in West Palm Beach is the defendant.   Read the article…………………………….
• Divided Gilbert community ousts HOA board (AZ)
  About 12 years after he moved into the newly built Greenfield Lakes community in Gilbert, Brett Woolley noticed his perimeter wall was tilting toward the canal in back of his property.  Woolley said that he contacted the HOA board and the management company because it was their responsibility to fix it but for the next ...
• Warren fire investigators working to determine cause of fatal fire (MI)
  Warren fire officials say a man killed in a Saturday afternoon fire at his Bear Creek condominium likely suffered a medical emergency and did not die from smoke inhalation.  “We are still investigating the scene to determine a cause of the fire and we won’t be able to confirm what killed the victim until we ...
• A few owners are holding up move to hurricane impact windows that would save condo money (FL)
  Question: I am on the board of our condominium. I have been charged with reviewing our ever-increasing insurance costs. After a review, it has been determined that we need to upgrade to impact windows and doors or shutters to save a substantial amount on our annual insurance bill. Out of 20 units, roughly five owners ...
• WUCIOA For All (But Not Yet) (WA)
  In 2028, all of us who reside in community associations, whether we reside in condominiums, co-ops, planned use developments (“PUD”s) or homeowners associations, will be governed by one statute, the Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (“WUCIOA”). Until then, we continue to understand that the time at which our condominium or homeowners association was created ...
• Australia: NSW Fair Trading to review Netstrata
  After their media investigation @LintonBesser and @NinahKopel from @ABCNews published an article High-profile strata company Netstrata caught charging excessive fees and taking kickbacks reporting on their business practices relating to insurance premiums, commissions, and brokerage, fire services, plumbing and building maintenance.   Read the article…………………………….
• Singapore: Flooding at condominium car park at Balmoral Crescent not caused by rainfall: PUB
  Flooding at a condominium car park along Balmoral Crescent was not caused by rainfall but by a faulty valve at a sprinkler storage tank, national water agency PUB said on Saturday (May 4).  “This is an isolated incident not caused by rainfall. At the time of the incident, rainfall over the area was not heavy ...
• Florida tightens condo insurance claim deadlines to ease disputes
  New legislation signed into law this week sets clearer, stricter deadlines for filing loss assessment coverage claims by condominium owners, aimed at reducing legal disputes and streamlining the insurance claim process.   Read the article…………………………….
• Florida real estate struggles as ‘motivated’ sellers flood market
  According to Redfin, the median time a Florida home spent on the market was 57 days in March. Two years earlier, that time span was just 24 days.  “It’s also coming at a time when HOA (homeowner association) fees are going up and insurance costs are going up, and people don’t want to pay these ...
• Park City affordable housing residents ask city council for HOA relief (UT)
  Residents of affordable developments such as Park City Heights and Central Park Condos told the Park City Council Thursday about unexpected HOA costs that are squeezing their budgets.  Luke McCarthy lives in one of the city’s 138 deed-restricted for sale units. McCarthy was able to get a condo last year after a four-year wait on ...
• Wantagh-Seaford Homeowners Association meeting addresses community issues (NY)
  Community members packed the Wantagh American Legion hall for the meeting, which was hosted by the Wantagh-Seaford Homeowners Association to address those concerns and to discuss the Neighborhood Watch program.   Read the article…………………………….
• WUCIOA For All – SB 5796 (WA)
  Did you know that the “WUCIOA for all” bill also makes changes to WUCIOA as it governs communities already subject to the statute? Most of those changes will take effect on June 6, 2024, while the “for all” portion of the bill does not take effect until January 1, 2028.   Read the article…………………………….
• Lufkin subdivision files lawsuit to stop truck stop being built next door (TX)
  A Lufkin subdivision has filed a lawsuit to stop RaceTrac, that operates a chain of gasoline service stations, from continuing its plans to build a truck stop within the “master-planned community.”   Read the article…………………………….
• HOA Q&A: Does the selection of a contractor have to be done at a HOA Board meeting? (FL)
  Q: When selecting a contactor to perform major work on the condominium buildings such as power washing or replacing roofs, does the selection of a contractor have to be done at a HOA Board meeting?  Read the Q&A………………………………..
• How to Choose a Property Management Company
  No two communities are identical; each community has various factors which influence what type of management will most effectively help them accomplish their goals. Some of these factors include the availability of resources and the complexity of the community itself.    Read the article…………………………….
• Untenable Tenants! How To Address Problem Renters In Your Condominium (MI)
  Tenants in condominium communities are often viewed as challenging, since they may not be familiar with condominium living. Because of this lack of experience, tenants may interfere with management, refuse to maintain the decorum required by the bylaws, or damage general common elements. This article addresses how to deal with the unruly tenant, outlines the ...
• Timber Springs neighbors protest creation of homeowners association, say HOA was unwelcome surprise (TN)
  When Ken Baker purchased his home in Timber Springs in 2022, he was glad to see there would be no homeowner’s association. As he signed to purchase the home, he said, an HOA was never mentioned, verbally or contractually.  But a year later, in February 2023, Baker got a letter in the mail saying a ...
• HOA Homefront: Is it our manager or is it us?
  Many associations struggle with a poor manager relationship, resulting in frustration for both sides. However, such struggles are sometimes created by the board and not the manager. Therefore, these can be resolved by a change in board practices.  Truly, some managers are simply not cut out for the job. The need for excellent HOA managers ...
• Dubai homeowner associations can use emergency funds to take on repair works from April 16 rains
  Homeowner associations in Dubai have started to receive approvals from RERA to use their emergency/reserve funds to take on urgent repair works of common areas in communities and high-rises alike. This will come as much-needed relief for homeowners and residents at these properties as that would reduce the chances of any delays in initiating damage ...
• What you can expect to pay for NYC condo or co-op insurance
  New York City has never been particularly cheap, and annual insurance costs make living in the city even more expensive for condo and co-op owners.  Condo and co-op insurance—which protects your individual apartment—normally runs several hundred dollars a year. But premiums have gotten more expensive since 2020 thanks to inflation, higher construction costs, and a ...
• Recent court ruling threatens property rights of 2.5 million Florida condo owners | Opinion
  More than 2.5 million Floridians enjoy the benefits of a condominium lifestyle. Multi-story towers allow residents to live close to beautiful views, their workplaces, their families, and/or fun recreational activities.  However, owning a condominium unit also comes with a significant financial obligation.   Read the article…………………………….
• The Uncertainty in Fla. Circuit Courts Concerning Section 553.84 Causes of Action Against Design Professionals
  As most construction litigation practitioners are aware, the vast majority of construction defect cases settle before trial and even those that proceed through trial may not get all the way through the appellate process.   Read the article…………………………….
• B.C. strata owners ordered to pay $8,500 for rental violations
  B.C.’s Civil Resolution Tribunal has ordered three Vancouver strata unit co-owners to pay $8,500 for violating rental bylaws.In the May 1 decision, tribunal vice-chair J. Garth Cambrey said Wendy Chow, Patricia Fong and Troy Gebhart rented out their unit contrary to rental restriction bylaws between June and November 2022.  Read the article…………………………….
• NC House Select Committee on HOAs Files New Bill
  As the short session continues and the legislature continues to negotiate House Bill 542 with interested parties, a new bill was introduced on May 1, 2024 by Representatives Frank Iler, Steve Tyson and Ya Liu.  Read the article…………………………….
• Solano Real Estate Scene: Condo crisis in California
  When a person buys a condo and needs a loan, the buyer must qualify, the condo must be appraised, and the condo project and HOA must be analyzed and approved by the lender.  The last time the condo market experienced a crisis was after the crash of 2008 when an estimated 10,000 condo owners across ...
• Automakers are revved up over condominium towers
  It’s the hottest trend in the automotive industry, and it’s not electric vehicles or autonomous driving. It’s something far more prosaic and unlikely: the automotive-branded high-rise condominium tower.  It started with the Porsche Design Tower, which opened in 2017. The Bentley Residences followed in 2022,   Read the article…………………………….
• My Safe Florida Condo Pilot Program: Frequently Asked Questions
  On April 24, 2024, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1029 into law, marking a pivotal moment in bolstering condominium resilience against hurricane damage. This significant milestone is important for Florida’s condominium owners’ associations to recognize in furtherance of efforts to protect Florida’s infrastructure.   Read the article…………………………….
• Editorial: HOAs and metro districts can foreclose on your home. Two new laws could stop this “equity theft” (CO)
  Little by little, Colorado lawmakers are reining in out-of-control metro districts and homeowner associations. But much more needs to be done.  We are dumbfounded that a state law is necessary to prevent these quasi-governmental boards from abusing their power of fines, fees, interest and attorney fees to take people’s homes through a lien and foreclosure ...
• Supplementary Guidance on Corporate Transparency Act for Illinois Community Associations
  On April 18, 2024, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the U.S. Treasury Department (“FinCEN”) issued supplementary guidance on the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) as part of their FAQs. The updated FAQs include guidance specifically for community associations which affirms and is in line with our recent article summarizing what community associations need to know ...
• Fire engulfs condo unit in Shell Point Wednesday (FL)
  A Shell Point condo unit caught fire late Wednesday morning, according to the Wakulla County Fire Rescue.  Once firefighters arrived, they encountered heavy fire, according to the fire rescue.    Read the article…………………………….
• Instead of Hating Your HOA, Make Your City Take Responsibility
  Homeowners associations (HOAs) are notorious punching bags, shamed for bullying widows to mow the lawn or telling residents what color they can paint their front door. But long before you came to loggerheads with your HOA, a cascading sequence of poor planning decisions put you both in this predicament. And that much-maligned HOA is just ...
• Association Contracts (FL)
  Whether your community association is a condominium, cooperative, or a homeowners’ association, Florida law empowers your association to enter into contracts in connection with the maintenance and operation of the community. Often times, your association is all but required to contract with third parties in order to maintain and operate the community, as it does ...
• E-Bikes and Batteries (FL)
  Florida has not escaped the growing epidemic of fires started by lithium-ion batteries, like those used in e-bikes and other battery-operated personal transportation devices. A recent Miami bike shop caught fire after the shop owner left an e-bike battery charging and closed the store for the day. Surveillance cameras caught the moment the battery exploded, ...
• Why Is This Special Assessment Different from All Others and the Need for a Legislative Fix (FL)
  Not too long ago a condominium association foreclosed its assessment lien against a deceased unit owner and the sole heir. With the statutory prerequisites completed, including the recordation of the lien, the association commenced its foreclosure lawsuit. Ultimately, due to the failure of the defendants to respond, a final summary judgment in favor of the ...