Condo & HOA News Items

/ Owner
November 6, 2024

The retirement neighborhood Easton Club East has restarted its board election following the settlement of a lawsuit in which a resident alleged his nomination was unlawfully rejected.   On Oct. 21, Jerry Wade filed a complaint in the Talbot County Circuit Court claiming the Easton Club East Community Association violated its bylaws and exceeded its authority when it rejected his application to run for a board position.    

St. Regis Bal Harbour condo association sues Qatari owners, alleging host of defects (FL)

St. Regis Bal Harbour Residences condo association is suing the property’s owners and managers, alleging building defects, health and safety issues and financial mismanagement.   Read

Neighbors not happy with subdivision, but DEQ says developer following law (MT)

Members of a rural Columbia Falls homeowners association are raising concerns about a subdivision near Meadow Lake Resort, but the developer says it’s following state

Pushback Against New Condo Safety Law (FL)

Political pushback is building against the state law requiring inspections of older condominiums.  In her last newsletter, Palm Beach County Commissioner Marci Woodward—whose District 4

Police commissioner, spouse implicated in campaign of harassment (CA)

Kristen Guhde only wanted a home when she moved into her condo conversion in a historic building on Capp Street. She says instead, she got

Contractor ruptures natural gas line; condos evacuated in Poughkeepsie (NY)

A contractor doing excavation work in the Fox Hill I condominium complex ruptured a Central Hudson natural gas line, causing the residents to be evacuated

Avon Lake neighborhood residents oppose HOA’s policy prohibiting flags (OH)

A September change to a homeowners association rules regarding flags and signs residents can post has divided the community and proved costly for at least

Community’s Owners May Lose Promised Refunds for Golf Memberships (FL)

The board of directors at the Hunters Run homeowners association recently reached a decision that has been met with questions and dissent from some members.

Woman accused of stealing $650,000 from Colorado HOAs

A woman has been arrested by Johnstown Police after a monthslong investigation into numerous reports of fraudulent activity from multiple northern Colorado homeowners associations, police

Homeowners in San Antonio question lack of secure mailboxes amidst mail theft surge (TX)

We reached out to the U.S. Postal Service who says they are not in charge of replacing damaged mailboxes:  “Postal Service guidelines specify that the

MA woman is accused of stealing $75K from Norwalk condo association through wire scam

A Massachusetts woman allegedly defrauded a Norwalk condo association run by a Stamford company out of $75,000 through a wire scam, according to an arrest

More than 30 units damaged as fire breaks out at Southfield condo complex (MI)

Officials say more than 30 units have been damaged after a large fire broke out at a Southfield condominium complex on Monday afternoon.  Southfield Fire

One person hospitalized, others rescued from Woodbridge condo fire (NJ)

One person was taken to the Burn Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston following a condominium complex fire Sunday night, in which several

Condo & HOA Informational Articles

When Disaster Strikes Your Community Association: Property Damage and Risk Assessment

A wide range of disasters affect a community association’s property, infrastructure, financial stability, and the safety of its residents. Natural disasters that can impact condominium, homeowner (HOA) and townhome community associations include fire, hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, flooding, wildfires, landslides, and storms. Negligence and accidents can also create or contribute to

Can HOAs withhold privileges over unpaid fees? (CT)

Keeping a community thriving depends largely on the regular collection of HOA fees. Yet, many HOAs struggle with residents who fall behind on their payments, affecting essential services and causing frustration among those who do pay on time. Is it legal for HOAs to restrict certain privileges to motivate timely

4 Essential Things Finance Leaders at Community Management Companies Must Know to Prepare for 2025

The finance landscape for community management companies is evolving rapidly, and 2025 is set to bring new challenges and opportunities that finance leaders must be ready to tackle. With increasing demands to drive efficiency, adopt emerging technologies, and safeguard against rising fraud risks, finance professionals in this sector are being

Higher Insurance Costs, Lower Coverage Squeeze Co-op and Condo Boards (NY)

The blows keep coming for Logan Browne and his neighbors. As president of his condo board in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Browne watched the building's insurance rates triple last year. Then, after the board filed two insurance claims when heavy rainfalls flooded the basement in 2020 and 2023, the insurance carrier declined

Board Members’ Fiduciary Duties – What Does That Mean?

When homeowners get upset with their HOA board members, they oftentimes accuse directors and officers of violating their “fiduciary duties”. But ironically, most people can neither define “fiduciary”, nor define “fiduciary duties” when asked. So, what does “fiduciary” mean and how does it apply to board members, if at all?

Trash Talk: What To Do When Animals Are Attracted to Trashcans in Your Community (CO)

With rapid property development throughout Colorado, wildlife sightings in residential communities are becoming more and more frequent. From raccoons to bears, these animals are often attracted to trash cans left outdoors prior to or after pick-up, which can lead to headaches for associations.  Several options exist when it comes to

Essential Budgeting Strategies for Community Associations

Budgeting is one of the most critical responsibilities for community associations, as a well-constructed budget provides the backbone for financial stability and operational efficiency. Thoughtful budgeting helps maintain property values, ensure smooth operations, and foster a harmonious community. Below are best practices and strategies to help your association create and

Community Association Considerations

Why you should pay special attention to closing your books this year
Community Associations Network
I’ve been posting the condo and HOA news for over 20 years now.  During the first 6 years, I might have run across 3 or  4 cases  of people stealing
Flags, Signs and Displays
Community Associations Network
Flags, signs and displays have become major areas of contention in condo's and HOA's.  Actually they have always been, but with the divisiveness the country is going through now, it's

Industry News

Real Estate Commmission to Host a
Community Associations Network
The Real Estate Commission, together with Community Associations Institute Hawaii Chapter
FirstService Development Advisors publishes study on
Community Associations Network
Study findings demonstrated that while master-planned communities often have higher HOA
CINC Systems Redefines Community Association Management
Community Associations Network
CINC Systems ("CINC"), the leading provider of software solutions for the

Legal & Legislative Articles

Lower Required Percentage For Approval of Declaration Amendments Is Now In Effect (MD)

During the 2024 Session, the Maryland General Assembly passed Senate Bill 665 and House Bill 1496, which changed the amendment process in Section 11-103(c) of the Maryland Condominium Act so, as to lower the percentage required

Hope Ranch Homeowners Battle over Height Limits (CA)

Whether Santa Barbara County upholds a nearly 85-year-old height restriction on a property in Hope Ranch could impact which future developments can gain approval in the upscale coastal residential community.  When the ranch was first developed

The condo-hotel conundrum: new state law tweaks balance of power at mixed-use complexes (FL)

Many residents bought their condos at the Carillon Miami Wellness Resort because living in a luxury hotel had an obvious allure. The branded oceanfront property is actually a condo-hotel, a complex for both residents and visitors

Georgia Property Owners’ Association Act: What is it and why does it matter?

Homeowners associations (HOAs) establish concrete rules and expectations for owners who live in the community.  While owners don’t always agree with all of the rules, most can appreciate that they help to maintain property values (which

HOAs Must File The FINCEN BOI Form And Here Is How

The Corporate Transparency Act ("CTA") requires that certain entities file annual reports with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network ("FINCEN") by December 31. In Community Associations v. Yellen, E.D.Va. Case No. 24-CV0-1597, Doc. 40 (Oct. 24, 2024),

Court Orders Insurer To Pay $6 Million In Florida Hurricane Irma Condo Damage Case

Afederal appeals court has upheld a ruling requiring Empire Indemnity Insurance Co. to pay over $6 million to a Southwest Florida condominium association for damages caused by Hurricane Irma in 2017.  The Mont Claire at Pelican

Op/Ed

How the law can help build better neighborhoods

The law helped create and protect exclusionary neighborhoods — and so, lawyers must be part of the solution to build better, happier communities, argues Harvard Law School Professor Maureen Brady.  In a lecture last week celebrating

A $500 Fine for a Sandwich: HOAs and Arbitrary Rules

Last year, on the day of my late husband's memorial service, I got hit with a $500 fine for my guest eating at the pool, which is against the condo bylaws. No warning. No exceptions —

Another storm for condos

The tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers South condo in Surfside in June 2021 was a defining moment for Florida. Ninety-eight lives were lost, and the devastation rippled across communities throughout the nation.  In the wake

Everybody Hates HOAs

HOA officials and board members are probably invited to neighborhood Christmas parties even less often than IRS agents. We hate getting letters from either of the bastards, let’s just be honest. But it’s kind of silly

Florida’s condo crisis: Is it bad enough to call a special legislative session?

The unintended consequences of the state's new law designed to ensure the safety of condo buildings is being felt throughout the state.  While the vast majority of those affected buildings are in Palm Beach, Broward and

Journalists collaborate on big statewide project looking at new condo safety law | Opinion

Special assessment: two frightening words when strung together and directed at a property owner.  Our big Sunday package (subscriber only) this week looks at the impact of a new state law, SB 4-D, designed to ensure

Canada Condo, Strata & HOA News

Condo Smarts: What qualifies as a significant change? (BC)
Community Associations Network
Q: Our community is a mix of townhouses and a highrise. Over the past five years, all of the townhouse units have installed heat pumps to replace their gas furnaces and provide
Coquitlam condo owner wins partial victory in complaint about noise from the building’s gym (BC)
Community Associations Network
The owner of a Coquitlam condo is entitled to compensation of $1,000 plus interest and fees for noise disruptions caused by weights being dropped on the floor of a common-area gym.  But
$45K in damages denied after sewage backs up in B.C. strata
Community Associations Network
A Vancouver strata owner has lost her bid for $45,146 in compensation after sewage backed up through a sink and into her University of British Columbia suite in 2023.  B.C. Civil Resolution

Canada Condo, Strata & HOA Articles

A Realtor’s guide to navigating strata documents in B.C.
Community Associations Network
Realtors play a vital role in guiding buyers through the often overwhelming process of purchasing a unit in a multi-family complex. For many, the volume of required documentation—from disclosure statements and financial
Comparing the U.S. Election to a Condo Election: Key Similarities and Differences
Community Associations Network
When most people think of elections, the intense debates, party lines, and media attention of national elections like those in the United States often come to mind. Yet, at a smaller scale,
Condo Pets and Legal Perils: How One Cat Sparked a Tribunal Case (ON)
Community Associations Network
In York Region Standard Condominium Corporation No. 1451 v. Chen, the condominium corporation (YRSCC 1451) sought relief against a unit owner, for violating the corporation’s pet provisions. YRSCC 1451 asserted that the

International Condo, Strata & HOA News

Philippines: Mandaue condominium occupants appeal loss of water supply

Occupants of a privately-owned low rise condominium in Brgy. Tipolo sought the assistance of the Mandaue City government after they lost their water supply last October 28.  In a letter

India: Private properties not ‘material resources of the community’: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, 5 November, ruled by a majority of 8:1 that private properties cannot be considered part of the ‘material resources of the community’ that the State

Malaysia: Titles of 138,000 strata units left in state of limbo due to developers’ fault, says Selangor MB

THE Selangor government will be coming up with a solution for 138,000 strata units that are unable to obtain their titles due to unscrupulous developers who have failed to settle