Do you keep your water running when doing the dishes? Do you wash half loads of laundry? Do you enjoy extra-long, hot showers to start your day? In the midst of the California drought, residents are learning to cultivate new habits to conserve water as a result of the Governor’s statewide declaration requiring Californians to […]
HOA Obtains Injunction Requiring Floor Covering
The recent case of Ryland Mews v. Munoz dealt with an increasingly common issue in homeowners associations – the installation of hard surface flooring. Ryland Mews (“the HOA”) sued Munoz (“Homeowner”) in response to Homeowner’s installation of hardwood floors in his unit. Specifically, Homeowner replaced the carpets in his unit with hardwood floors to accommodate […]
Pros & Cons of Age-Restricted Homeowners Associations
When you think of an age-restricted homeowners association, you might conjure up a picture of elderly couples in Hawaiian print shirts and khaki shorts, riding on golf carts, sipping drinks by the pool, or playing cards in the clubhouse. While sometimes this isn’t far from the truth, age-restricted Associations are much more than that! […]
7 Facts About Your HOA CC&Rs
Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) are rules and limitations that govern on a group of homes (aka a community). Typically they are established by the developer, neighborhood association and / or homeowner association (aka HOA) to protect, preserve and/or enhance property values within the community. They might, for example, prohibit owners from parking their cars […]
Simple Safety Tips to Avoid House Fires in Your Homeowners Association
An HOA board is responsible for many things in a homeowners association. One of the most important is the safety of residents. In addition to just encouraging residents to watch out for each other, a Board can be proactive about educating homeowners too. Read the article………..
California Regulations Mandate Stricter Maintenance Requirements for Community Association Pools
Community pools provide welcome relief from summer heat. They also impose certain obligations on operators of those pools, including community associations. Recent regulations adopted by the California Department of Health define “public pools” to include pools maintained by community associations. The most dramatic changes are set forth in Title 22 of the California Code of […]
A Community Association’s Four Stages of Life
Community associations, like people, evolve during their lifetimes. Some of it is good and some is bad, but change is inevitable as projects, and people, age. Whether that evolution leads to a long and healthy life, or an early demise depends a great deal on the decisions made early and the ability to recognize signs […]
Does Your Homeowners Association Allow Political Yard Signs?
Americans are starting to gear up for the 2016 Presidential Election by showing their support volunteering at campaign locations, watching the latest debates, and posting political signs showing the support for their favorite candidates. This raises the issue of whether or not a homeowners association can restrict residents from posting political signs. Learn more in […]
New Bill (CA) Proposes Guidelines for Turf in Homeowners Associations
Does your homeowners association have guidelines/specifications for installation of artificial turf? Bill AB 349 makes the governing documents, architectural or landscaping guidelines, or policies of an Association void and unenforceable if they prohibit the use of artificial turf or any other synthetic surface that resembles grass. Read the article…………..
Guidelines for the Homeowner Forum at HOA Board Meetings
In homeowners associations, residents are encouraged to attend and observe HOA board meetings. Does your Association have many residents attend the board meetings? Some Associations have many residents that participate and attend meetings and other communities may never have a resident attend a meeting. This entirely depends on the Association. Read the article………..
How an HOA Board Can Fly Through a Fowl Situation in Your Association
Does your homeowners association have wildlife that has taken up residency in your community, specifically birds? Birds are beautiful, graceful and melodic. They give a sense of being close to nature and add to the feel of a community. Read the article………..
The Importance of Building Community in Your Community Association
Community management is about more than landscaping and lawn care. It’s about creating a welcoming atmosphere that promotes security, safety and community for all residents. As part of our community management, we help HOAs develop action plans to bolster residents’ feeling of community through shared experiences. Read the article………………..
The Hidden Cost of Hardwood Floors for HOAs
Hardwood floors can increase property values in condo units by improving the aesthetic value and helping to alleviate dust allergies. This may seem like a no brainer but many homeowners are shocked to find (often after it’s too late) that this is a restricted and sometimes prohibited upgrade to their unit. But why? What’s not […]
Responsibilities an HOA Board Can’t Delegate to a Manager
The most important thing a Board needs to know is that it cannot give away the authority to make decisions. The manager is an integral part of a homeowners association, but there are some things the HOA board is ultimately responsible for and can’t delegate to a manager. Read the article………..
Time For Community-Governed Associations To Wake Up And Smell The Coffee!
In 1978, Proposition 13, The People’s Initiative to Limit Property Taxation, passed within the State of California. This proposition limited the manner in which municipalities could assess property taxes. With the gravy train at an end, local governments began a frantic search to find new revenue streams to support city service. While it took them […]
How a Drought Brings More Than Water Woes for Homeowners Associations
The California Drought is bringing more than just water woes. Some members of homeowners associations are having a harder time conserving water than would be expected, especially in the area of watering landscapes. Read the article……….
3 Steps an HOA Board Can Take to Resolve Disputes in the Association
A homeowners association and its members disagree from time to time. The HOA board must provide the homeowner an opportunity to meet and confer with the board. Members must be provided with a fair, reasonable and expeditious procedure for resolving disputes with the Association without being charged a fee. The process is referred to as […]
Berkeley (CA) Proposes Tougher Balcony Standards
Planning and Development Director Eric Angstadt proposes adding several sections to the city Building Code. One would mandate cross-ventilation for enclosed assemblies of balconies, landings, decks and stairs. Another would require naturally durable or preservative-treated wood, corrosion-resistant steel or similar approved materials for the floors of balconies, landings, decks, stairs and other projections. Read the […]
What Do Residents Say About Living in a Homeowners Association?
Americans who live in community associations are overwhelmingly pleased with their communities. They are expressing strong satisfaction with the HOA board members who govern their homeowners associations and the community managers who provide professional support. Read the article…………
The Berkeley Balcony Tragedy: More Inspections Aren’t Enough
In the early morning of June 16, 2015, in Berkeley, California, the lives of 6 young people were snuffed out because the balcony they were standing on collapsed. Building failures happen all the time, but the press and government largely ignore them because nobody died. With these six tragic deaths (and serious injury to seven […]
Simple Stain-Removing Solutions for Homeowners Association Residents
There’s always a lot of discussion about keeping the outside of your home looking good for the homeowners association; but the inside is important too – especially if you plan on selling your home someday. Try as you might to prevent them, spills, drips and splatters in your house are inevitable. Whether you, your family […]
4 Tips for Homeowner Participation in your HOA
We often come across HOAs that are struggling to handle disagreements, complaints, or controversial topics that are voiced by homeowners. This is normal. Just like a big family, there are going to be disagreements – many of them, in fact. Read the article………………………………….
California Water Restrictions and their Impact on HOAs
The severe drought currently impacting California shows no sign of abating in the near future. California Governor Jerry Brown has issued mandatory water cutbacks for the state, instituting limits and guidelines for both commercial and residential property. Residents are asked to reduce potable water usage by 25% through February 28, 2016, while certain high-usage areas […]
3 Types of Rules in Your Homeowners Association to Respectfully Follow
Fact: About 63 million Americans live in a new suburban community or planned unit development, according to the Community Association Institute. Living in a homeowners association has many benefits – such as recreational amenities, maintenance services, and being part of a community – but it can only function well when the rules of the Association […]
The Berkeley Balcony Tragedy: More Inspections Aren’t Enough
In the early morning of June 16, 2015, in Berkeley, California, the lives of 6 young people were snuffed out because the balcony they were standing on collapsed. Building failures happen all the time, but the press and government largely ignore them because nobody died. Read the article……….
Plaintiff Neighbor Suing For CC&R Violations In Replacement Dock Construction Gets $104k In Attorney’s Fees/Costs
Although finding the prevailing party issue to be closed, the prevailing party prevailed enough to garner $104,718.80 in attorney’s fees and additional costs in a neighborhood dispute involved in Hooker v. Rodgers, Case No. D065888 (4th Dist., Div. 1 June 16, 2015) (unpublished). Read the article………….
Does Your Homeowners Association Budget Include the Right Components?
Many homeowners associations operate on the fiscal year (July through June). If your Association is one of them then hopefully you have your new and improved budget ready to go because July is just around the corner. Read the article………….
Considerations About Artificial Turf in Your Homeowners Association (CA)
It’s the responsibility of the HOA board to protect, maintain and enhance the Association. This comes in all shapes and sizes – from compliance with the Davis-Stirling Act to the type of grass members can have in their yard. In the current drought that California is experiencing, the latter may come into play more often […]
How to Quickly & Painlessly Break Up With Your HOA Manager
Breaking up is hard to do. After evaluating an HOA manager, a Board may decide it would like to change managers, change to a different management company, or it just doesn’t need the services of a manager at all any longer. Before parting ways the Board should ask: are we willing to sacrifice service and […]
How to Effectively Evaluate an HOA Manager
People and organizations are often afraid of evaluation because they’re afraid of failure. If we don’t fail we can’t learn, and if we aren’t given the opportunity to learn, we can’t grow. It’s in the best interest of the homeowners association for the HOA board to take the time to intentionally evaluate the HOA manager, […]
Does Your Homeowners Association Have a Clear Policy for Renters?
Do any owners in your homeowners association rent out their homes? What are the Association’s obligations to those renters? What are their rights in the Association? Can you control how many units in the HOA can be rented? Read the article………
Rights & Responsibilities for Better Communities: Principles for Homeowners
More than a destination at the end of the day, a community is a place people want to call home and where they feel at home. This goal is best achieved when homeowners, non-ownerresidents and association leaders recognize and accept their rights and responsibilities. This entails striking a reasonable balance between the preferences of individual […]
Tips from an HOA Board: 6 Ways Members Can Be Crime Stoppers
Everyone wants a safe place to call home, and your homeowners association should strive to make all residents feel secure. While the HOA board is diligent in your efforts to reduce possible dangers in your community, you cannot do it alone. It is up to everyone to pitch in to keep crime rates down. Thankfully, […]
Adverse Impact on “Quiet Enjoyment” in Your HOA, What Does That Mean?
Legalese is challenging sometimes. Words and phrases like fiduciary duty, waiver and hold harmless, and impact on quiet enjoyment are bandied about like everyone should know that they mean. Most HOA or condo documents have a prohibition of some kind on activities that disturb the “quiet enjoyment” of an owner. Read the article………..
17 Tips Every HOA Board Member Can Use
Being an HOA board member is no easy task. There are meetings to attend, decisions to make, and duties to fulfill. With the extra demand on your time and resources that comes with being a member of the board, you and your fellow board members can probably take all the help you can get. Read […]
Assessment Collections in the Wake of the Huntington Case (CA)
Collecting assessments has never been an easy job. There are pitfalls lurking around every corner and innumerable requirements waiting to be missed. To ensure a clean foreclosure process, extreme diligence and care must be taken. In the wake of the Huntington Continental Townhouse Association, Inc. v. Miner case, this job just got tougher. […]
Common Challenges Every HOA Board Faces & Resources to Help
Every organization comes with its fair share of challenges. The difference between an organization that thrives and one that just survives is how these challenges are handled. There are common issues in a homeowners association that challenge the Board’s responsibility to protect, maintain and enhance the asset. Continue reading to see if your HOA board […]
Resident Tips: Shedding Light on New Bulbs in a Homeowners Association
Standard incandescent light bulbs may soon become a thing of the past. We’re here to shed light on new bulbs being used. Under the Clean Energy Act, the sale of energy-inefficient incandescent bulbs were phased out over a two-year period and no longer sold by January 2014. Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) have become the most […]
What Does Safety in a Homeowners Association Look Like?
When you think of staying safe in your neighborhood, what comes to mind? You probably lock your doors at night, keep a porch light on, communicate with neighbors if something or someone seems suspicious, maybe even have a guard dog to alert you of anything out of the ordinary. Generally, safety in a neighborhood means […]
4 Tips for Homeowner Participation in your HOA
We often come across HOAs that are struggling to handle disagreements, complaints, or controversial topics that are voiced by homeowners. This is normal. Just like a big family, there are going to be disagreements – many of them, in fact. The trick is how you deal with it. Sometimes the problems can even seemingly be […]
10 FAQs About Parking in Your Homeowners Association
It’s sometimes challenging to discuss and answer questions about parking within your homeowners association. While the rules regarding parking in each association are different here are some tips on how to answer common questions. Read the article………..
Can a Homeowners Association Keep You From Flying the American Flag?
On Memorial Day, many Americans show respect for their country and choose to honor the veterans who have made great sacrifices for America by raising the star spangled banner or displaying it in some way on their home or in their yard. But can your homeowners association keep you from showing your patriotism and restrict […]
How does alternative dispute resolution apply to a community association? (CA)
Alternative dispute resolution may consist of mediation or arbitration (binding or non-binding). Neither an association nor an owner may file an enforcement action against the other in Superior Court unless the parties have endeavored to submit their dispute to alternative dispute resolution. Alternative dispute resolution applies only to an enforcement action that is solely for declaratory, injunctive or writ relief, […]
Personal Agriculture and Your HOA (CA)
On January 1, 2015, AB 2561 added Section 1940.10 and 4750 to the Civil Code. What’s important to know is that Section 4750 grants homeowners in HOAs the right to utilize their backyards for “personal agriculture.” More importantly, this right supersedes any provisions in a HOA’s governing documents that restrict or prohibit such use. But, […]
Protecting People with Dementia in Your Homeowners Association
There are many different ways to keep the members in your homeowners association safe. If your Association attracts a significant number of senior adults, or you know of specific residents in your Association who suffer from dementia, you can help by having a plan in place to protect them in the event they are confused […]
3 Ways an HOA Board Can Keep the Association Safe
It’s the responsibility of the HOA board to protect the homeowner’s association community. When it comes to keeping the community safe, a Board is responsible for safety issues, general well-being of the members of the Association, and prevention. Read the article………
Why it’s hard to fill seats on HOA boards
Many common interest community associations struggle filling open director seats on their boards. Frustrated and discouraged boards periodically consult with me, questioning how their association can proceed when they have a hard time finding enough volunteers to simply meet quorum. There are four main reasons why associations have difficulty finding volunteers, but each of the […]
5 Reasons There’s a Disconnect Between the HOA Board and Homeowners
The success of a homeowners association is based on the members and Board working together. If the community is not taken care of, it will catch up with Association, affect property values, decrease the quality of living, and create a disharmonious environment. Read the article…………
3 Things an HOA Board Can Do Now to Combat Costly Maintenance
There is always work to be done, especially in a homeowners association. It’s crucial that an HOA Board plan for general, ongoing maintenance and upkeep. This is important in order to keep the Association a safe place to live and keep it an appealing place to live. Read the article…………