Insurance brokers are one of an HOA’s most important vendors, yet they are often ignored until claims arise. This mistake can be costly. Insurance is a contract in which the insurer accepts a fee (“premium”) and in return agrees to pay for certain incidents of damage (property insurance) or claims of liability (casualty insurance). Because […]
Residents at Indio condo complex say gas has been out for three weeks (CA)
A goose bathed in cold water in a pond at the Quail Lakes condo complex on Monroe street in Indio. Unfortunately, people who live there are showering in cold water. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront – Be ready when amending CC&Rs (CA)
Amending CC&Rs is not easy. Here are some tips to avoid making it harder. 1. Check with the members. Amending CC&Rs usually takes a supermajority (i.e., more than simply a majority of the quorum), so a good idea isn’t enough — it still needs widespread support. A great proposed amendment is meaningless if the homeowners […]
Kalithea fencing punted to HOA (CA)
Frustrations ran high as district representatives sought resolution at this month’s El Dorado Hills Community Services District Board of Directors meeting. Although multiple residents reiterated desires to erect fencing around Kalithea Park, ultimately the decision was punted to the neighborhood HOA to handle. Read the entire article……………………………….
Stinson Beach residents must reckon with abandoning their homes as sea levels rise (CA)
“Lots of people delighted with their beach house and their one-and-a-half-minute walk to the beach all of a sudden discovered that you wouldn’t be able to get a permit, for anything,” resident and HOA President Mike Matthews told the station. “That equates to ‘can’t sell your house,’ and that equates to loss of the value […]
HOA Homefront: When termites lurk, fumigate or spot clean? (CA)
Q: Our board is resolved to resume fumigation of the buildings in our community and has voted to obtain quotes for the next phase of fumigation but has not voted yet to schedule the work. The president does not consider that to move out of one’s home and into a hotel or another person’s home […]
Quincy Firewise Community group urges residents’ preparedness participation (CA)
With 90 non-renewal notices for homeowners’ insurance policies coming across his desk in a single day, it’s beyond time to organize Quincy residents into becoming a Firewise community, according to Mike Flanigan, co-chair of Quincy Firewise. Read the entire article……………………………….
Orinda police chief reports that cameras have led to arrests, convictions (CA)
Orinda has agreed to a memorandum of understanding with Flock Group, a Georgia-based company, that allows the Orinda Police Department to access data from community cameras stored in the Flock system. The action was taken by the city council, authorizing the city manager to enter into the MOU, following an update on March 16 by […]
Tahoe Keys association addresses uranium in water (CA)
Wells shut down because of uranium contamination should be back online by watering season, according to the Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association. Two of three wells in the Tahoe Keys were taken offline after trace amounts of uranium were found in December 2020. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront: Who handles those termites? (CA)
Q: I live in a townhouse. My neighbor had termites and my other neighbor on the other side suspects them as do I. We were told by the association that it is our responsibility to take care of them. It just seems to me that termites come from the outside in and should be the […]
Amid dry year, neighbors next to closed golf course concerned about overgrowth (CA)
As drought-like conditions persist and warmer months draw near, some east Petaluma homeowners are voicing concern that a neighboring property, the abandoned Adobe Creek Golf Course, presents a potential fire risk. Read the entire article……………………………….And it’s not the first time.
HOA Homefront: Can a board member date a vendor? Isn’t that a conflict of interest? (CA)
Q: Is it considered a conflict of interest if a board member is also an HOA employee? Our board is voting on matters which would affect the job duties of the board member/employee. Would this be considered a conflict of interest? The director acts as property manager. Read the Q&A…………………………………..
California active adult community offers tip line, cash reward for ‘hate letter’ sent to resident
A California active adult community has set up an anonymous tip line and is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who sent an anti-Asian hate letter to a resident whose husband had just died. Leisure World Seal Beach in Orange County, CA, posted a message on […]
HOA Homefront: How can we cap rentals in our community? (CA)
Q: Does Section 4741’s approval of rental caps as low as 25% of the HOA mean a community such as ours can disallow rentals above that percentage? We are a small community with surging rentals, creating automobile congestion on our streets. Read the Q&A………………………………………..
In Rossmoor, governance again becomes an issue (CA)
The Rossmoor Community Services District has signaled a retreat just weeks after asking a local legislator to file a bill seeking to pave the way for more control over the unincorporated area. Read the article………………………………………..
Restitution fund created for residents of Salinas HOA whose vehicles were unlawfully towed (CA)
A restitution fund has been created for residents whose vehicles were unlawfully towed at a Salinas-area Homeowners Association, and the first check was delivered on Saturday. The Monterey County Superior Court entered its judgment in the case People v. Regency Management Group, and the ruling provided for an $82,000 restitution fund. Read the article………………………………..
Clubhouse Goes Private, Expires Lease on Neighborhood Daycare Program (CA)
The Glenshire Devonshire Residents Association is pulling the plug on tenant leases in its clubhouse, limiting access to association members and their guests. The decision affects Play Date, a daycare program which partly operates out of the building, and Town Church Truckee — both of which up until recently offered services to the broad public. […]
HOA Homefront: What is (and is not) OK in closed session (CA)
The Open Meeting Act (Civil Code Sections 4900-4955) is the HOA version of California’s Brown Act, requiring openness in governance meetings. The Brown Act (Government Code 54950-54963) generally applies to public agencies, commissions or private corporations created by a public agency. Since HOAs are private associations, the Brown Act does not apply to them, but […]
Fed Up Neighbors Stuck Footing The Bill After Homeless Vandals Trash Community Pool Again (CA)
There’s a nasty mess yet again in a Citrus Heights gated community. Neighbors say squatters have been taking over the community pool near Arcade Lake Lane, leaving piles of old belongings in the bathrooms. Some have even found old needles strewn on the floor. Read the article……………………………………
License Plate Readers Installed Natomas Neighborhood Generate Leads For Police (CA)
A Natomas neighborhood association said license plate readers installed just weeks ago are already generating leads for police. It’s a battle against petty crime, getting fast results. And what the cameras are able to track goes beyond street crime. Read the article……………………………….
Second-Alarm Fire Causes Major Damage To Pleasanton Condos (CA)
An early morning fire forced the evacuation of a condominium complex and displaced four people in Pleasanton Saturday. Read the article……………………..
HOA Homefront – Reader Questions on rental issues (CA)
Q: I have a home that I rent. Last week I received a traffic notice stating my HOA account was levied a fine of $100 for speeding, committed by my tenant’s caregiver. Is it lawful for a HOA to be able to fine an absentee owner for behavior of a guest not known to owner? […]
You and the Law | When the pest control company damages your property (CA)
Today’s story will be of special interest to three groups of readers: 1. Anyone who owns a condominium under the management of an HOA, a Home Owners Association. 2. Managers of HOAs. 3. Companies who contract with HOAs and cause damage to the property of condo owners. Read the Q&A……………………………………….
HOA Homefront: Can a board ban tenants with a criminal past? (CA)
Q: My HOA made a change in the CC&Rs. Renters must be approved by the board, and nobody with a criminal record shall be approved. Can they make these demands for just rental units and not units being sold? Wouldn’t criminal records be just as important about potential buyers? Read the Q&A……………………………….
Tustin homeowners association: ‘Repaint that $23K garage door! (CA)
The fate of garage doors – any garage doors – does not exactly rate high on the list of world problems. But for Julie Good, her new garage doors are a triumph, a piece de resistance, a tour de force. Less hyperbolic, they improve her house’s curb appeal. Read the article………………………….
2021 Legislation: Insight and Legal Update (CA)
For the last two legislative sessions, we have faced some of the most historically significant bills since the Davis-Stirling Act. And that’s saying a lot considering the Davis-Stirling Act has probably been amended more than a hundred times since it was enacted in 1986. This year was especially challenging on legislators, advocates, and citizens wishing […]
Police blotter: Woman brandished firearm at HOA workers (CA)
A woman was arrested after brandishing a firearm at employees hired by the homeowners’ association to work on the residential property. Read the first article…………………………………..
HOA Homefront – Reader Questions on rental issues (CA)
Q: I have a home that I rent. Last week I received a traffic notice stating my HOA account was levied a fine of $100 for speeding, committed by my tenant’s caregiver. Is it lawful for a HOA to be able to fine an absentee owner for behavior of a guest not known to owner? […]
Natomas Community Installs License Plate Readers In Hopes Of Deterring Crime (CA)
Fighting crime, one license plate at a time. A Natomas neighborhood fed up with law-breaking drivers has installed license plate readers throughout the community known as “The Hamptons.” “We’ve been out here for 15 years and there’s a lot of drive-by crime in the area,” said Amy Gidding-Mora. Read the article…………………………………
Freedom Isn’t Free: An Indio Man Displayed a Social-Justice Flag Outside His Home for Months—and Then His Homeowners’ Association Got Involved (CA)
The right of all Americans to freely express their views has been at the forefront of our nation’s consciousness over the last turbulent year. However … while the government is not allowed to limit speech (with some exceptions), private entities are (with some exceptions)—and that’s been a tough lesson for Chris Wilson, who lives in […]
HOA Homefront: Are my views protected or not? (CA)
Q: My HOA requires trees be situated so “normal enjoyment of view by other lot owners shall be required.” It also says the HOA controls tree trimming that “is necessary to prevent the obstruction of the view of lot owners.” Is this standard language or has it been prohibited by statute in any way? Read […]
Sand Canyon Community Votes Unanimously To Oppose Sand Canyon Resort (CA)
The Sand Canyon Community Association (SCHOA) voted unanimously to oppose the proposed Sand Canyon Resort, which has met with much resistance from local residents. Read the article…………………………………..
Three hospitalized following Solana Beach condo fire (CA)
Three people were taken to the hospital following a condo fire in Solana Beach Wednesday night. According to the Del Mar Fire Department, the fire started at a condo near Via De La Valle and Solano Circle late Wednesday night. Read the article……………………………….
Owners Of Building Allowed To Convert To Condominiums Despite Claim Of Displacing 100-Year Old Tenant (CA)
The owners of a six-unit San Francisco residential building got permission from a state appeals court on Friday to proceed with a condominium conversion, a case that got widespread attention over a 100-year-old woman’s efforts to stay in one of the units. Read the article…………………………………….
Condo Owners’ Legal Rights When the Bug Guy Damages Your Property
Let’s begin with this question: Who is responsible if a contractor hired by the association damages property inside the condo? That was “Stephanie’s” question. “Our HOA contracts with “Get Outa Here, Bugs” for pest control. During a treatment, without permission, the technician pulled out my drop-in GE electric range to spray. He dropped it, and […]
Fire Displaces 12 Households At Palos Hills Condominium Complex (CA)
Twelve households were displaced, children and elderly among them, when a fire tore through their building at the Riviera Condominium Complex late Sunday evening. Palos Hills officials are collecting gift cards and donations to help them buy food and winter gear lost in the fire. Read the article…………………………………
Vancouver condo developer sentenced to six years in U.S. prison for real estate fraud (BC)
Vancouver condo developer Mark John Chandler is “a financial predator,” a U.S. Federal Court judge said Monday while handing down a six-year sentence for a real estate investment fraud. Chandler swindled 12 U.S. investors out of $1.7 million more than a decade ago, taking their money for a purported Los Angeles condo project that never […]
Rancho Palos Verdes Expands Security Camera Program Into 2021 (CA)
Rancho Palos Verdes is stepping up neighborhood security and expanding its homeowner’s association security camera grant program into 2021. Homeowner’s associations and neighborhoods can purchase Flock Safety cameras to monitor vehicles on neighborhood streets. It’s part of the city’s public safety strategic plan to keep people safe and help eliminate non-violent crime. Read the article…………………………………….
HOA Homefront: Readers ask when can we attend meetings? Can we vote? (CA)
Q: I am on the Architectural Review Committee for our association. Recently homeowners have asked to attend the meetings. What are the guidelines for homeowner attendance at these meetings? We have said they can sit and observe without comment. Some homeowners have attended strictly to attack the members for what they perceive as a slight […]
Shell Beach residents say they ‘dodged a bullet’ from mudslides caused by recent storm (CA)
Gary Cannet, who is also a board member for one of the Shell Beach homeowners’ associations, says they charged a special assessment of $1,000 for mudslide mitigation and cleanup. Jorge Garcia, Management Services Director for the City of Pismo Beach, says city public works crews initially responded to the mudslide to provide support, but now […]
Condo fire in Port Hueneme displaces 10 (CA)
A condominium fire in Port Hueneme displaced 10 residents Sunday, officials said. Initial reports from the scene indicated there were flames through the roof of one of the two-story units. The incident sent a column of dark smoke into the sky above the residential area. County crews responded along with Oxnard and federal firefighters. Read the […]
HOA Homefront: Readers ask about expired CCRs and a missing name (CA)
Q: Do you have any information regarding the expiration of CC&Rs? I’ve heard it’s 20 years from the time of the recorded filing of the CC&Rs. My subdivision development of homes has no common areas but does have an HOA. The CC&Rs don’t show up in the San Mateo county recorder system. I need to […]
Family of 3 killed in Encinitas bluff collapse say lawsuit could spur ‘positive change’ (CA)
A lawsuit filed against the city of Encinitas, the state and a local homeowners’ association following a deadly 2019 bluff collapse will move ahead after a recent motion to dismiss the case was denied. Read the article………………………………….
New California Law has huge impact on HOA Rental Restrictions
Despite fierce opposition, including over 5,000 constituents personally expressing opposition to the bill, California Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 3182 into law on September 29, 2020. It creates a new Civil Code Section 4741 which voids rental limits below 25% of the members. Per Civil Code 4741, a condominium or stock cooperative association may not […]
Neighbors attempt to block affordable housing project on Battles Road (CA)
Attempts by neighboring homeowners to halt an affordable housing project on West Battles Road were rejected by the Santa Maria City Council in a split vote Tuesday night. A permit for the 160-unit Centennial Gardens project was approved by the Planning Commission in November and then appealed to the City Council by Pacific Crest Estates […]
Wind Brings Large Tree Crashing Down Onto Santa Clarita Condo, Splits Roof (CA)
The roof of a condominium in Santa Clarita was split when a large tree was felled by the swirling Santa Ana winds Tuesday morning……Building inspectors are on scene determining the extent of the damage. Crews were also on scene cutting up the tree and working to remove it. Read the article……………………………….
2-Alarm Blaze Rips Through Carlsbad Condo’s Roof (CA)
Ferocious flames scorched through the roof of a Carlsbad condominium complex overnight as firefighters battled the two-alarm blaze. The fire was reported at about 3 a.m. Tuesday in the 7400 block of Avenida de Palais. There, crews encountered heavy flames on the roof of the structure. Read the article…………………………………
Fence to come down on forsaken golf course (CA)
The owners of the closed Vellano Golf Course in Chino Hills will take down the chain-link fence it illegally installed in 2018. The City of Chino Hills announced Tuesday that a settlement was reached with Western Golf Properties (WGP) Vellano, LLC to remove the fence within six months. WGP sued the city in July 2019 […]
HOA Homefront – Shorter meetings are BETTER (CA)
It may not shock readers to know I have seen innumerable board meetings run far too long, exhausting volunteers and degrading the quality of the deliberations. Consider these tips to keep meetings moving forward efficiently. Read the article…………………………………..
Long Beach Residents Stunned To Learn Of $130 Million Judgment Against City For Revoking Permit On Oceanfront Condos (CA)
Long Beach in Nassau County has been in fiscal trouble for years. Now the popular beachside city has learned it must pay more than $130 million for revoking a permit on oceanfront condos. Read the article………………………………..