In one of the suits, brought by a Miami condominium association, the plaintiffs produced records they said showed that after Hurricane Irma, almost 4,800 claims for Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance Co. were handled by unlicensed adjusters. Of almost 35,000 Heritage claims after Irma and Hurricane Michael, in 2017 and 2018, some 14% were handled […]
‘Everyone is selling’: Florida condo owners feel crush of rising insurance costs
The rising cost of home insurance for one Palm Beach County condo is a story that seems to playing out at condos all across Florida. “It’s shocking to watch in a few years to go from under $100,000 to pushing a half a million,” Christina Auer said. “It’s out of line.” Insurance experts tell WPTV […]
FinCen Confirms CTA Applies to Associations
Although many concluded that the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) applies to homeowners associations, we now have verification of this. On April 18, 2024, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCen”) issued 16 new FAQs and updated two more. Under Category C, question C.10 of the FAQs, a Q&A was added confirming that CTA requirements apply to […]
Some want homeowners associations to ban short-term rentals like Airbnb after massive weekend party (NE)
Over the weekend, a party at an Airbnb in Sarpy County near 189th and Briar, with nearly 200 people, lead to a massive law enforcement response. The Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office says they found five guns and marijuana. There was a “help an officer” call and one law enforcement officer had a struggle with one […]
Months after partial ceiling collapse, Tamarac condo residents desperate for repairs (FL)
Some residents are living in a construction zone, months after rain and a beehive caused a partial ceiling collapse at the Bermuda Club Condominiums in Tamarac. The 55+ older condo community shows signs of little to no work done in a couple of units impacted by February’s rain when a drain blocked by a beehive […]
Banks fail to get Villas West lawsuit dismissed (AZ)
A U.S. District Court judge says a lawsuit brought by Villas West Condominium Association against two banks following the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars can move forward despite attempts by the banks to have it dismissed. According to U.S. District Court records, the condo association filed a lawsuit in Pima County Superior Court […]
‘Hold the homeowners accountable’; Owasso neighborhood HOA is thousands of dollars in debt (OK)
Owasso residents volunteered their time and finances to fix a broken park bridge after the City of Owasso and the neighborhood HOA said their hands were tied. However, the bridge is only a fraction of the updates needed in the park. “We need new bridges on both ends,” Jesse Werner, Three Lakes resident, said. “We […]
Unhappy neighbors. Vacant lots. NC community for ‘patriots’ off to a rocky start
When developers launched 1776 Gastonia, the 55-plus housing community for “patriots,” in the Charlotte area last year, they said it was just the beginning of a “grassroots movement.” With street names like Paul Revere Drive and Constitution Lane, 1776 Gastonia invokes vague stars-and-stripes imagery to appeal to its target audience: patriotic citizens looking to achieve […]
Is Your Co-op Vulnerable to Unauthorized Pets? The Pet Law is a Beast (NY)
In the case of 360 E. 72nd St. Owners Inc. v. Wolkoff, a New York State Court in Manhattan handed down a decision regarding pets in cooperative buildings that co-op boards and property managers should beware. The outcome underscores the importance for co-ops to take prompt legal actions when dealing with residents who violate pet-related […]
Gov. Jared Polis signs bill to protect Colorado’s home-based businesses from HOAs
Gov. Jared Polis signed a measure into law that prohibits homeowners associations from barring the operation of home-based businesses, saying it is one of his “favorite” bills this session. Under Senate Bill 134, a home-based business must still comply with the HOA’s rules and regulations around things like architectural control, parking, landscaping, and noise levels. […]
Resident seeks responsive HOA for Greens at Wyoming
Residents of The Greens at Wyoming are attempting to get control of their neighborhood after they say their concerns have been ignored by an out-of-state homeowners association. The neighbors have a list of complaints: Most of the roads in the development — established in 2005 — remain unfinished, with sewer lids sitting high above the […]
Ocean City Condo Complex Shut Down Amid Safety Concerns (MD)
An Ocean City condominium complex with a history of alleged structural problems dating back more than 40 years has been declared unsafe and was closed down by the city. Ocean City’s construction official issued “unsafe structural notices” and ordered the Seaspray condos to be vacated until repairs can be made, city spokesman Doug Bergen said. […]
Bay Area condo war widens after $1 million units sell for just $32,000 (CA)
The auctioning of several downtown San Jose condominiums has spawned a widening legal war now that a troubled China-based real estate firm has filed a new lawsuit in the increasingly tangled case. China-based Z&L Properties has filed a lawsuit against winning bidders in an auction last week of the downtown San Jose condos, as well […]
Hawaii’s Insurance Crisis as Premiums Nearly Quadruple
Sue Savio, president and owner of Insurance Associates and former president of the Hawaii Independent Insurance Agents Association, told Insurance Business America that insurance costs for condominiums have risen by 100 percent to 1,000 percent in certain areas. Cj Paet, vice president of operations for Cadmus Properties, told local news website KITV 4 Island News […]
‘Do something’: Condo owner frustrated other perceived inaction by property management company (TX)
rudy Allen has buyers’ remorse after dealing with what she describes as ‘issue after issue.’ The trombone player sold her home in 2020 and moved to the Sunridge Villas condominium on Westpark Drive in Southwest Houston. “It’s been very far from an oasis. I just stay in my house,” Allen said. “I regret [the] purchase […]
Homeowners urge lawmakers to take action on bill addressing defective home construction (CO)
When your home is built poorly, it can be hard to hold builders accountable, or even get repairs done. A bill moving through the Colorado legislature would make it easier for homeowners to get the fixes they need. “It’s only about having the repairs done properly,” said Janine Musser, a Colorado homeowner. Read the […]
Ponte Vedra condo residents claim HOA is targeting them with thousands in legal fees (FL)
A select group of people living at the Belleza at Ponte Vedra Condominium complex reached out to Action News Jax questioning the HOA’s authority to charge them thousands in legal fees. Five residents living at Belleza tell Action News Jax the fees have been piling on for well over a year, claiming it all dates […]
Do E-mail Exchanges Constitute A Meeting Of The Board? (CA)
In LNSU#1, LLC v. Alta Del Mar Coastal Collection Community Association,94 Cal. App. 5th 1050, 312 Cal. Rptr. 3d 707 (2023), two homeowners in a common interest development argued that their homeowners’ association violated state law governing open meetings when certain directors discussed items of association business by e-mails without giving all association members notice […]
Resident calls on the community for help, City and HOA said their hands are tied (OK)
An Owasso resident calls on the community to help fix a broken park bridge after the city and neighborhood HOA said their hands are tied. The bridge in the Three Lakes neighborhood is completely falling apart. With the unkept conditions, it’s a huge liability, and danger to the kids who play or those who want […]
State lawmakers take steps to limit HOA foreclosures, equity loss after Colorado Sun investigation
A pair of bills advancing through the Colorado legislature this year would make it harder for homeowners associations to foreclose on their members for unpaid assessments, while giving property owners a better shot at walking away with some of their equity should they lose their homes. Read the article…………………………….
A battle over playing catch in a Ballwin backyard reaches a fevered pitch (MO)
But the plan of the trustees is clear. They’ve written a proposal to go before the homeowners’ association for a vote. It would allow the three trustees to declare a home a “nuisance” and issue an undetermined amount of fines that could be collected by placing a lien on the home. The wording is so […]
Laketown Wharf Condominium Association’s response to evacuations (FL)
The Laketown Wharf Resort Condominium Association has responded to the mandatory evacuation of 63 units. The owner’s association attorney is Brandon Burg. Burg issued a statement Friday morning saying they’ve hired an engineer to inspect the 2-stairwells deemed structurally unsound by Panama City Beach inspectors. Read the article…………………………….
Amended construction defects bill passes Colorado Senate but still lacks homeowner group’s support
The Colorado Senate passed a watered down version of a contentious bill on Thursday that sponsors hope will reduce insurance costs for condominium construction in the state and spur the development of that type of housing. SB-106 would have added a right-to-repair path to resolve faulty construction issues outside of the costly litigation process and […]
Family of deceased man files lawsuit against Pompano Beach condo for failing to protect its residents (FL)
The family of a deceased man is suing a Pompano Beach condominium, which they said, is responsible for the death of their family member. The family said 87-year-old Vincenzo Cammalleri died, and his friend is still badly ill, after getting infected with Legionnaires disease, a pneumonia that spreads when a bacteria is inhaled or when […]
Class-action case challenges POA actions (AR)
A class-action complaint filed Tuesday afternoon in Saline County Circuit Court alleges that the Hot Springs Village Property Owners’ Association has violated the Declaration in real-estate matters. The suit, Jeffery Atkins et al v. Hot Springs Village POA, is case 63CV-24-477. In an emailed statement, the plaintiffs said: “It is our opinion that the POA […]
Sweetwater condo residents upset after their cars were towed; management says vehicles didn’t have valid parking permits (FL)
Residents at a condo in Sweetwater woke up to find their cars gone, and they were shocked when they found out who had towed them. 7’s Heather Walker investigates. No one wants to start their day this way. Arely Correa, car towed: “We got up early in the morning to go to work, and we […]
‘Sick to my stomach’: Neighbors demand answers from HOA over flag violations (NC)
Nickey Crowley says for the last 20 years, he’s flown a gay pride flag outside his home in Holly Park with no issue. Then in September of last year, he received a violation saying that flag did not comply with the rules set out by the homeowners association. “Why now, is my pride flag an […]
What are Florida’s new homeowners association laws? How to find your HOA’s rules
More than 75 million Americans live in subdivisions, condo buildings and other communities with homeowner associations (HOAs) that require them to pay monthly fees and follow a set of rules. And Floridians who live in places with homeowner associations now have laws protecting their right to know what their dues are paying for. Read the […]
‘Your house is worthless’: Massachusetts homeowners are grappling with crumbling foundations that insurance won’t cover
A cluster of homes run by a condo association in Westminster, Massachusetts, has had at least 10 of 96 units, all built in the 1990s, test positive for pyrrhotite — racking up repair fees of $115,000 to $130,000 per unit — according to Spectrum News 1. This caused homeowners association (HOA) fees to skyrocket. Read […]
Ocean Beach condo complex owners say property is threatened by coastal erosion (CA)
San Diego is known for its million-dollar views of the Pacific Ocean, and while it’s pretty to look, at some Ocean Beach residents say they’re worried coastal erosion could seriously impact their condo complex. “When I moved in, the bluff was eroding right in front of our complex,” said Russ Rasmussen, a resident of Oceanus […]
Controversy engulfs massive Dobson Ranch HOA (AZ)
Dobson Ranch residents are getting ready to elect three new homeowners association board members after a challenging year that saw revelations of financial problems totaling millions, a failed recall, swelling attendance at board meetings and allegations of nastiness and misinformation. Read the article…………………………….
Residents of Southern California condo complex living in fear of neighbor
After months of scary incidents and vandalism, some residents of a Long Beach condo complex say they’re tired of living in fear of a neighbor. Multiple people who live in the Gladys Avenue condo complex spoke with KTLA 5’s Sara Welch, saying that a man has threatened them and broken several windows of the homes […]
‘I would blow it all up’: Suspect arrested for threats to Palm Beach condo board (FL)
A man was arrested in Palm Beach on Wednesday after he allegedly threatened to blow up a residential building during a condo board meeting. According to the Palm Beach Police Department, Paul Cataldo was arrested shortly after an April 3 condo board meeting during which made statements about blowing up the building. He was booked […]
HOA Homefront: Why members won’t volunteer (CA)
Filling open HOA board seats is a vexing and discouraging problem for some associations. There may be reasons why neighbors are not interested in serving. Could any of the below characteristics describe your association? Do directors spend many hours each week on HOA business, inspecting the property, observing vendors, and otherwise dealing with the HOA’s […]
Buckhead Condo Residents Riled Up Over Developer’s Plans (GA)
A group of residents living in a historic Buckhead condo complex are concerned about an apartment developer’s possible changes to the property after it bought nearly two-thirds of the units, but the company’s leader says it has no plans to demolish the buildings there. The condo complex, Huntington Arms, is a set of brick buildings […]
Fact Finders: What’s the legality of neighborhood security cameras? (MO)
Neighborhoods from Baltimore to Oklahoma City to Oakland are making news this year for installing security cameras that can read license plate numbers. And now we’re getting a question from a local viewer. Mary Ann wants to know: Is it legal for a neighborhood association to install speed limit signage with cameras that record vehicles […]
Bill Seeks to Clarify Rules Regarding Colorado Metro District and HOA Foreclosures
State law gives metro districts the power to levy fines, fees, and taxes to pay for various construction projects within their territory. However, there is no requirement for metro districts to have a process for residents to dispute the fines levied. Moreover, a metro district could foreclose on a resident’s property if they fail to […]
$50 million assessment at Mountain Green to hit condo owners in July (VT)
Mountain Green condo owners voted in favor of a $50 million assessment to bring the building into the 21st Century, but some longtime owners said their quarterly payments will be so high they can’t afford it and they will be forced out. An $18 million assessment was approved in 2022, and another $29 million was […]
Riviera Beach residents told not to touch debris washed up from Key Bridge collapse (MD)
Debris, including large pieces of wood, has washed up on the shores of a riverfront neighborhood in Anne Arundel County following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Members of the Riviera Beach Community Association say they are concerned and are looking for guidance. Read the article…………………………….
HOAs are blocking solar panels and native lawns. Here’s how to fight back.
More Americans than ever are running afoul of their HOAs for updating their homes in ways that benefit the environment, adding solar panels, native lawns, EV chargers, clotheslines or gardens. Once a rarity, 84 percent of newly built, single-family homes sold in 2022 were part of HOAs, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Read the […]
Security firm paying $230K to settle wage-theft case at Chelsea condo (NY)
New York Attorney General Letitia James and city Comptroller Brad Lander on Monday announced a nearly $230,000 settlement with the managers of a Manhattan condo building and a private security firm for underpaying its workers. A joint city and state investigation found that Allied Universal Security Services had for years been underpaying its security guards […]
Court asked accelerate to unusual condo-vs-condo case in Key Biscayne (FL)
A Miami judge is being asked to put a quick end to a bizarre dispute in which two luxury Key Biscayne condominium associations are suing each other. The question? Who pays maintenance fees when an individual property owner falls behind on payments. A hearing in the year-long lawsuit has been set for April 23 before […]
Watershed ruling changes condo buyout landscape (FL)
Many condo terminations “just won’t work” following a recent appeals court ruling in Florida. The ones that we have reported on over the past year or so are all likely in some sort of limbo, or dead in the water, sources tell me. Condo buyouts, the precursor to developers terminating associations to eventually develop new […]
Massive fire rips through condo complex in Lomita (CA)
Firefighters were dispatched to battle the fire, located at the Vista Verde Condominium complex in the 2000 bock of Palos Verdes Drive, at around 6:40 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. In all, they say there are around 150 firefighters engaged with the blaze. Read the article…………………………….
Sisters sue a luxury townhome community’s HOA in effort to save a historic Black cemetery (GA)
The cemetery is at the center of a lawsuit brought by descendants of people buried there against the homeowners association that owns the property. The lawsuit alleges the luxury townhomes’ HOA has failed to maintain the property as required, allowing nature to envelop the site and render it almost unrecognizable. Read the article…………………………….
Who Was Robert and Why Do his Rules Rule?
As an attorney and professional parliamentarian, I’m sometimes asked, “Who was Robert and why do his rules rule?” It’s a timely question. Henry Martyn Robert, the original author of Robert’ Rule of Order, died 100 years ago on May 11, 1923. Since that time, versions of his parliamentary manual have come to dominate meetings. Read […]
More than 80 condo buildings due for milestone inspections in Volusia County (FL)
In Volusia, county officials are preparing to implement and review milestone inspections for 86 buildings following a new state law. Senate Bill 4–D was created in response to the collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida in 2021. The bill established milestone inspections, which assess the structural integrity of aging condominiums. Milestone inspections are […]
Associations argue for tossing of PPP lawsuit (CO)
Lawyers for condominium associations based in Aspen, Snowmass Village and resort towns elsewhere in Colorado recently introduced court pleadings arguing for the dismissal of a civil-fraud lawsuit that alleges the organizations fraudulently obtained funds from the Paycheck Protection Program. Read the article…………………………….
Oakland HOAs are quietly installing surveillance cameras to watch public roads (CA)
Last October, the city of Oakland announced it would soon be installing 300 automated license plate readers—cameras that monitor public streets and instantly scan vehicle license plates, running them against “hot lists” for stolen cars or vehicles associated with crimes. But the rollout of Oakland’s big new vehicle surveillance system has gotten bogged down as […]
Miami Beach looks to hire a condo ombudsman (FL)
A call to find city funds to hire a condominium ombudsperson has been referred to Miami Beach’s Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee. “In order to properly implement the Condominium Assistance Charter Amendment,” the resolution that city commissioners referred says, “the city should create a position for a professional with relevant experience assisting condominium and/or co-op […]