When you have a strong desire to help those around you and a roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-to-work attitude, you probably find yourself volunteering your time quite often. Even with substantial previous experience in giving back to the community, many board members find working with an HOA to be very different from past volunteering opportunities. This difference is felt […]
When Homeowners Harass HOA Board Members
There are many perks that come with living in a homeowners association, but the downsides which are often more extreme and covered by the media more often can be potentially draining. In many of the cases covered by the media, you’ve heard stories about HOA board members or alternatively the Management company harassing homeowners, and […]
Board must not ignore its maintenance duties (IL)
Q: The board of our condominium association frequently puts issues to a poll of the owners, even when the decision is solely within the jurisdiction of the board. Recently, owners were questioned about a significant common element repair project. A majority of the owners “voted” against it, as they don’t want to spend the money. […]
HOA Board Members: Roles and Responsibilities
Serving on an HOA board is a valuable way to contribute your time and talents for the good of your community association. Most association bylaws require a minimum of a president, secretary, and treasurer, with some including a vice president. HOA board members must understand the important role they play in overseeing the association policies, […]
How Can Having The Right Vendors For Your HOA Affect Your Finances?
As an HOA board member, finding vendors for your HOA is one of your most important duties. Unfortunately, many boards opt to settle for cheap vendors that deliver poor results all in the name of saving the association money. What these boards don’t know, though, is that vendor selection can impact the HOA’s bottom line. […]
The Business Judgment Rule: Inapplicable as to Decisions Made Under a Material Conflict of Interest (CA)
Under the Business Judgment Rule, volunteer directors are shielded from liability for decisions made when those decisions are (1) consistent with the director’s duties, (2) made in good faith, and (3) in a manner it believes to be in the best interests of the HOA and its members. (See Lamden v. La Jolla Shores Clubdominium […]
HOA boards should operate more like a business (ID)
Many Idaho homeowner associations lack adequate resources to operate like a business, and a volunteer board member ends up wasting an enormous amount of time on concerns that divert their attention away from key concerns. All too often, associations are run like a family community co-op, foregoing business acumen, to gather over a pot-luck. While […]
Getting the Most Out of Your HOA Board Member Role
There are so many great things about serving as a member of your HOA board. Sometimes, you may find yourself feeling stretched a bit thin, so it’s good to take a step back and reflect on why you decided to serve your community to begin with. If you need a reminder, here’s a quick summary […]
Five Financial Tips for New HOA Board Members
Congratulations, you’ve been elected to your HOA board! As a board member, you have a fiduciary duty to use sound business judgment in your role. That means you need to think like a business owner and not just a committee member – and that includes understanding the HOA’s financials. As a new board member, you […]
Can a Director Take a Leave of Absence from the Board of Directors? (MN)
Recently, the president of an association asked me how her association’s Board of Directors should deal with quorum and voting when there are five directors and two are on a leave of absence from the Board for a couple months. I try not to interrupt my clients when they are speaking (with only modest success, […]
Generally Board Members Cannot be Compensated (FL)
Q: Can the members of our board of directors receive a holiday bonus? Read the Q&A…………………………………..
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…………………………………
Homeowner has basic questions on HOA rules (NV)
Q: I’m just getting myself educated on homeowners association board matters and I have several questions. I hope you may be able to shed some light on my them. Read the Q&A……………………………………
HOA Conflict Of Interest: Identifying And Resolving Them (NC)
It is not uncommon to have an HOA conflict of interest in any given association board. The important thing is to learn how to distinguish them and subsequently come to a resolution. Read the article………………………………
Board Member Tips: How to Handle Conflicts of Interest
As a member of a homeowners’ association (HOA) board of directors, you must know that both real and apparent conflicts of interest can occur while conducting HOA business. A conflict of interest is a situation in which a board member may have a personal gain from decisions he or she makes in their official capacity […]
Three Primary Responsibilities Of Your HOA’s Board Of Directors (NC)
If you own property in a community association, you’ve probably had some form of contact with your community’s board of directors. And, while you may have a general grasp of the role the board plays, it is important to understand the main functions of a community association’s board of directors (and committees). Boards and committees […]
The Legal Duties of HOA Board Members
Members of the board should be selected annually in a free and fair election. Every homeowner should be given the opportunity to vote for qualified candidates to fill board positions. Potential candidates are generally very involved in the community, regularly attend board meetings, and have a good understanding of the association’s governing documents, including important […]
Avoid These Common Board Member Mishaps
Serving as a board member of a homeowner’s association can be a fulfilling experience. Many enjoy assisting neighbors, actively volunteering, and learning about their community. However, sometimes board members can take their position too seriously and make mistakes that can leave their community dissatisfied. Here are the common board member mishaps associations should avoid. Read […]
Court Rules in Favor of Brooklyn Condo Board: Business Judgment Rule Protected Board, Say Attorneys (NY)
Read the article……………………………
Calm and collected: 6 steps for board members to reduce tensions in a community
Community association boards sometimes find themselves at odds with homeowners when carrying out their fiduciary duties and responsibilities. Board members often may feel unsure of what to do when an angry resident constantly complains and may not know how to reduce tensions that arise in the community. Read the article…………………………….
Mistakes New HOA Board Members Make (and How to Avoid Them!)
Way to go – you are the newest elected member of your community HOA board! This new role means great things for you, and we are excited to be part of your journey to help you make the most of this experience. Along with your new role comes some new challenges, but don’t worry – […]
Ethics
The Washington Metropolitan Chapter of CAI published a number of excellent articles in their magazine “Quorum”. Read the magazine………………
Time Management for HOA Board Members
You may be wondering if it’s possible to balance board duties with the rest of your commitments. The answer is yes! With the right tools and the right team, you can absolutely take an active role in your community while maintaining the right balance for your life. Let us help you! Read the article…………………………………
The Business Judgment Rule Rides to a Condo Board’s Rescue (NY)
The board of managers at a Brooklyn condominium has learned, first-hand, about the thickness of the armor provided by the Business Judgment Rule. State Supreme Court Justice Kathryn E. Freed has dismissed a lawsuit against the board at the Bridgeview Tower Condominium, at 189 Bridge St., saying the suit was “procedurally defective” and the board […]
How Board Members Drive Success
When you choose to serve on a board, you may wonder what impact you have on your community. Today, we want to outline that impact and say thanks for serving. Board service, when effective, truly blesses the lives of the homeowners in the community. Read the article………………………………
Identifying Conflicts of Interest
As a board member, you strive to make the choices that protect your community and create a neighborhood that homeowners are proud to be a part of. You follow your obligations to complete your duties in good faith and with due care, and you act in the best interests of the association. Read the article………………………….
Is Board Burnout Leading to Depression?
Serving on the board of a community association to help shape the community you live in can be very rewarding and satisfying. Many board members enjoy being part of the board and being on the front lines of decision making and planning. Nonetheless, being a board member has its fair share of work and stress. […]
Is a Community Association Responsible for the Acts of Its Volunteers? (FL)
Community associations can be a great place for community involvement. It is always nice to see members get involved and help with operating the association. However, should the association be concerned about the actions of these volunteers? Read the Q&A………………………………………..
Your HOA Got Served: Now What?
The unfortunate reality for many community associations and their boards of directors is that at some point in their existence they will be sued. Read the article………………………………
6 HOA Board Member Best Practices
As the elected members tasked with making decisions that affect the whole community and all owners, it is imperative that every HOA board is fully conversant with the fundamental rules that facilitate effective leadership. Typically, a board is responsible for solving disagreements, managing finances, and generally enforcing rules that seek to make the community a […]
5 Steps for Proactively Working Together as a Board
As a member of your HOA’s Board of Directors, you’re accustomed to listening to homeowners’ concerns and resolving them to the best of your abilities. Skills such as this, as well as other skills, allow you to work productively alongside your fellow board members in all aspects of the role! Read the article………………………….
Don’t Blame Me! I Didn’t Vote!
Many clients are facing difficult decisions related to COVID-19. Should we open the pool? Should we waive late fees? Should we tell that owner she needs to repaint her house? Service as a director on a community association Board is never easy, but the pandemic has created stark and binary decisions that are not easy […]
How to Effectively Manage Conflict in Your Community
As an elected leader of a homeowners’ association (HOA), you have a duty to preserve and promote harmony in the community. Conflicts can and will arise, and it’s up to board members to diffuse situations as much as possible and bring the community together instead of apart. Read on to learn about the sources of […]
HOA boards entitled to exercise business judgement when making decisions (FL)
Q: Last year, our HOA contracted to have the asphalt repaved on the walk path of our 2000 home development. As you can imagine, this was an expensive repair and cost $170,000. Based upon the existing conditions, in my opinion, this was an appropriate repair. I had no hand in any of the process, even […]
Identifying, Scouting and Retaining HOA Board Members
Having a strong Board for your Homeowners Association is essential. Developing that HOA Board, and the individual Board members, can feel like an insurmountable task at times, especially during times of hardship or conflict. Creating a culture within your Board that includes appreciation, expectations, and imagining what can be achieved are all part of creating […]
HOA Homefront: Help! The board isn’t enforcing the rules (CA)
Q: Residents in our HOA are encouraged to report rule violations. I and others have reported violations directly to the manager, primarily because the phone numbers and email addresses for any of the board members are not public for the residents. How do we follow up on reports of violations and/or obtain statuses? Some of […]
The Importance of an HOA Board Code of Conduct
Serving as an HOA board member is a rewarding challenge, especially if this is your first time! The more prepared you are for the expectations of the role, the more confident you’ll feel. There’s certainly a code of conduct you should be committed to upholding. Read the article……………………………..
3 Difficult Board Member Management Tactics (NJ)
Board members are an integral part of a well-functioning HOA. An uncooperative attitude in a board member has the potential of unraveling the board unity and can cause problems for the community. Fortunately, there are three management tactics that may provide some relief and control over the situation and these particular behaviors. Read the article………………………….
What HOAs Need to Know About Mental Health
Should an association make accommodations for people with neurological issues like early onset dementia, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum, whether they tell you or the association observes it? What special accommodations or exceptions are available under the Fair Housing Act? Read the article……………………………..
HOA Homefront: Why it’s important to wait for the board to act (CA)
In community associations, corporate formalities seem to interfere with efficiency. Some argue that if someone is making good decisions, why wait for board meetings and motions that might delay the action? Although most clients view corporate procedures as a bother to be avoided as much as possible, the process is an important protection for volunteers. […]
The Rule of Judicial Deference: Protecting HOA Decisions Based on Reasonable Investigation and Made in Good Faith
Volunteer officers and directors of a common interest development (“HOA”) are required to make decisions which often have significant legal and financial implications for the HOA and its membership. Because they are unpaid volunteers, officers and directors are afforded certain protections against personal liability similar to those afforded to directors and officers of other types […]
Relationships on the Board: How Close is Too Close? (NY)
The motivation for volunteering to be an uncompensated (and sometimes underappreciated) co-op or condo board member is usually a sense of civic duty combined with the desire to protect one’s own investment and quality of life. This means that the majority of board members actually live in the buildings and communities they serve. And that […]
Reasons YOU Should Serve on Your HOA Board
Serving on your HOA board of directors may seem like a daunting task. And while it’s true that the position comes with a lot of responsibility and requires time and effort, it can also be very rewarding! Here are just a few of the many reasons to consider joining your association’s board of directors: Read […]
Board Member Best Practices
As a volunteer Board Member, you have made a selfless decision to volunteer your valuable time for the betterment of your community. You’re an inspiration to many, including our management team at PMP, and one of the main reasons we love what we do! Read the entire article……………………………….
3 Legal Duties of HOA Board Members (CA)
Being on the board of directors for a homeowners association comes with a lot of responsibility. The board is responsible for making sure the entire community is running well. This includes making sure all of the homeowners are following the rules, making sure the community is well-kept and safe, and handling all of the association’s […]
What are the HOA Board of Directors Qualifications?
Running a successful homeowners association is no easy feat! The tasks of maintaining a safe, welcoming, thriving community in which members will love to live falls in the hands of a board of directors. Read thge article…………………………..
Three Ways to Reduce and Deal with HOA Board Resignations
Many people today are eager to get involved in their local communities. One place they tend to start is at home, volunteering for their own community association (HOA or Condo Owners associations). For some volunteers, they see it as an extension of what they do everyday, as is the case for treasurers who may work […]
Relationships on the Board: How Close is Too Close? (NY)
The motivation for volunteering to be an uncompensated (and sometimes underappreciated) co-op or condo board member is usually a sense of civic duty combined with the desire to protect one’s own investment and quality of life. This means that the majority of board members actually live in the buildings and communities they serve. And that […]
Board Decisions, The Business Judgment Rule, And Judicial Deference (CA)
No board member wants to see their name, or that of their Association, listed as a defendant in a lawsuit alleging they violated their obligations under the Association’s CC&Rs or California law. This is especially true for any board member who spends countless hours enforcing the governing documents, participating in violation hearings, attending board meetings, […]
Conflicts of Interest will be Problematic for Board Members unless Handled Properly (NY)
Back in 2015, a condo board president’s toilet repeatedly leaked into the apartment below. It was determined that the condominium’s pipes to the toilet were improperly pitched. That was eventually fixed in 2015. But, it also was determined that the seal around the base of the board president’s toilet at the floor was damaged. It […]