Condominium association residents and volunteer board members around the world understandably have questions about the safety of their own communities and are wondering how to protect their buildings after the tragic collapse of Champlain Tower South Condominium Association in Surfside, Fla. CAI is providing information and resources to help concerned residents and board members understand […]
Condo Repair Problems (FL)
After the collapse of Champlain South in Surfside and as proof of problems the condo suffered prior to the tragedy comes to light, other condo owners are sharing their concerns, sending us images of buildings in desperate need of repairs. And some are angry because those repairs have not been made. Do they have any […]
Creating a Maintenance Chart for Your Association
The driving goal behind homeowner associations is to benefit through sharing. Pools are expensive, but we all get a pool by sharing the cost. Keeping an expansive lawn is lavish for one purpose, but becomes a community park when shared and everyone benefits. Shared responsibility can cover the cost of regular maintenance and predictable repairs […]
Water damage in a condominium building (FL)
Q: A downstairs unit suffered water damage in our condominium building and we are fairly certain the damage is coming from the shower pan in the upstairs unit. The owner of that upstairs unit is refusing access and won’t let the association fix the common elements. The owner has represented that he fixed the problem, […]
The Common Element Conundrum – When Common Elements Damage Unit Interiors (NJ)
One of the most frequent hot button issues in condominium communities, particularly those with multi-residential buildings, is whether or not the association will pay to repair damage to a unit’s interior stemming from a defect or issue, such as a water leak, in the common elements. A condominium association has specific duties and obligations in […]
Who’s Going to Pay for This? Common Expenses and Limited Assessments in Common Interest Communities (CO)
Two common topics of discussion in condominium and townhome associations are: (1) who is responsible for the maintenance, repair, and replacement of the building components; and (2) who is responsible for paying for repairs. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Exterior Inspections: What Are They and What Do They Do?
One of the more common procedural tasks handled by property management companies is periodic exterior inspections. These inspections, typically made by management companies, with the assistance of the HOA board members in facilitating them, are an important part of maintaining an HOA’s quality and living standards dictated by state and local laws. Read the entire […]
Maintenance worker should have a contract (IL)
Q: Our association is self-managed. The association uses a “handyman” to perform various services for the association. This person is paid on a per-job basis. It’s always been handled verbally and on a “handshake.” A newer board member is concerned about the lack of formality with this arrangement, and has suggested we need a written […]
Association Handyman – Employee or Independent Contractor? (CO)
Community associations in need of a handyman or other services may turn to hire homeowners or community residents to do small jobs within the community on an ongoing basis. The association may be tempted to automatically consider the individual to be an “independent contractor” rather than an employee in order to avoid payments such as […]
The Cost of Deferred Maintenance
Many communities find themselves with a dilemma. In the time of COVID-19, communities have many of their residents working from home or not at all. Their daily routine consists of walking the dog, convincing their kids that online schooling is working, logging into an online meeting, talking to clients and colleagues on the phone, then […]
Covenants and Maintenance
With Spring finally upon us, community associations and homeowners alike are planning for necessary repairs and renovations. Particularly in condominium and townhome communities, there can be a great deal of confusion and ambiguity surrounding who is financially responsible to either insure or maintain and repair a particular improvement. Read the entire article……………………………….
Preventative Maintenance 101
Annual inspections and preventative maintenance are an important aspect to prevent larger issues from occurring in the future on every property, large or small. It is recommended that properties are inspected every year to look for maintenance concerns. Addressing the smaller concerns every year helps your Boards when preparing budgets and catching issues before they […]
Preventative Dryer Vent Care
While cleaning the dryer vent is not on the top of every owner’s to-do list, it is a crucial activity that, when neglected, can cause increased energy bills, expensive dryer repairs, and dangerous fire hazards. Thankfully, taking measures to keep these problems from arising is simple, only necessitating preventative dryer vent care. Read the entire […]
Covenants and Maintenance (CO)
With Spring finally upon us, community associations and homeowners alike are planning for necessary repairs and renovations. Particularly in condominium and townhome communities, there can be a great deal of confusion and ambiguity surrounding who is financially responsible to either insure or maintain and repair a particular improvement. Read the article…………………………………….
Preventative Maintenance 101 (CO)
Annual inspections and preventative maintenance are an important aspect to prevent larger issues from occurring in the future on every property, large or small. It is recommended that properties are inspected every year to look for maintenance concerns. Addressing the smaller concerns every year helps your Boards when preparing budgets and catching issues before they […]
The Cost of Deferred Maintenance (CO)
Many communities find themselves with a dilemma. In the time of COVID-19, communities have many of their residents working from home or not at all. Their daily routine consists of walking the dog, convincing their kids that online schooling is working, logging into an online meeting, talking to clients and colleagues on the phone, then […]
A Practical Guide to Community Association Roof Repairs
Most people would not consider roofing to be a hot-button issue unless managing a community association. HOAs and Condo Associations commonly find themselves facing conflicts regarding community roofing. Who pays for HOA roofing? How can members stay compliant with community roofing standards? Can you hire your contractor, or do they need board approval? These are […]
Make Your Roof Last Longer With Regular Maintenance
The roof is the one part of our home that takes quite a beating from the harshest elements day in and day out. While roofs are designed to last, the time will come when you have to replace them eventually. However, you can delay that for years with proper maintenance. Some roofing maintenance work can […]
Who Pays for Repairs When Ice Dams Cause Damage to a Unit? (MN)
In Minnesota, we often run into issues with ice dams on homes. Ice dams form when snow and ice on the roof melt and then refreeze at the edges and on the gutters, causing large dams of ice to build up along the edge of the roof. This, in turn, prevents melting snow from properly […]
Tips for HOAs and Condos to Safely Remove Icicles
Severe winter storms have pummeled the country this year with snow, ice, and below-freezing temperatures. On February 16, snow covered 73% of the U.S., according to the National Weather Service. One of the many winter hazards associations may be dealing with are icicles. While these appear to be harmless, icicles can hurt people and damage […]
How to Deal with Ice Damming Issues. A Community Association Primer for Board Members and Property Managers (IL)
Old Man Winter of 2020-2021 has hit Chicago area Condo, Townhome and HOA associations mercilessly. In some cases, the large amount of snow fall has affected outdoor parking issues as well as access in and out of outdoor parking lots. In other cases, the severe winter has caused significant ice damming that has resulted in […]
Navigating Community Association Construction Agreements with Contractors for Renovation and Remodeling Projects
Construction agreements can often be some of the most costly expenses that condominium associations and homeowner associations (HOAs) will ever review and consider for approval regarding their common element projects. However, many associations neglect to retain legal counsel who has the expertise needed to draft and implement the most effective terms and agreements. Instead, Boards […]
Frozen Pipes and Finger Pointing (CO)
Given the sub-zero temperatures over this past weekend, we are getting many questions regarding who is responsible for water damage caused by the bursting of frozen pipes. To assist you, we are re-publishing our Altitude Community Education Newsletter of December 2018, entitled “Frozen Pipes and Finger Pointing.” This article will give you a step-by-step analysis […]
Condo Board Access to Units can be Difficult (NY)
Condo Boards sometimes have to access the inside of units. There are a variety of reasons including repairs to common elements, access to shut off valves, inspections relating to repairs in other parts of the condominium building, or a myriad of other valid, legitimate reasons. The trouble is that governing documents like the condominium’s Declaration […]
Can an HOA Enter a Unit? (CO)
There may be times when an HOA Board may be in a situation where it needs to enter a condominium or townhouse Unit in their community. The Board does not have unrestricted access to the Units in their community, and the limits and the authority to enter a Unit are governed by the HOA’s Declaration. […]
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. […]
Winter Weather Maintenance: The Responsibility and Liability Facing Your Association This Winter (WA)
With the first snow hitting the Puget Sound region just before Christmas, it’s clear that we have entered the time of year when many of us have to scrape car windows, de-ice our porch steps and walkways, spread salt on our driveways, and possibly even shovel snow just to safely traverse the areas around our […]
How to Recession-Proof Your HOA from a Maintenance Perspective
When the Great Recession of 2008 occurred, home-owners associations took a hit. Not only was there an increase number of homeowners unable to pay their dues, but continued maintenance was unfortunately overlooked. Without sufficient funds, how can HOAs complete necessary maintenance in their communities if they didn’t plan? As the U.S. economy gets hit by […]
How To Ensure Your Painting Project Is Watertight (FL)
Does your association have a major painting project coming up? If so, you may be searching for painting contractors and manufacturers to complete your project. Read the article…………………………………
Maintenance and Insurance Charts: Is Your Community Using One? (CO)
An association’s maintenance and insurance obligations are typically set forth in its governing documents, and ideally should be contained in the declaration of covenants, conditions, and restrictions. Although one might expect that a board member, manager, or homeowner would be able to read their communities’ governing documents and find answers to questions concerning their maintenance […]
5 HOA Maintenance Plans You Must Have
Contrary to the popular adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” homeowners associations must be proactive when it comes to maintaining common areas. It’s important to have maintenance plans so the community can run efficiently. By anticipating repairs and replacements, board members can also drastically reduce HOA expenses. For a smooth-running association, here are […]
Why Condos Need to Plan Ahead for Major Repair Projects (HI)
Aging condo buildings need large, complex projects to keep them safe and functional. But many condo associations have not budgeted for these expensive, time-consuming repairs, says Dana Bergeman, CEO of local construction management company Bergeman Group. He calls the situation “a real crisis.” Read the article………………………..
Tips on road maintenance in a property owner association (NC)
I have heard from a number of people who live in homeowner and property owner associations and the concerns they have regarding roads, as well as water runoff and the issues which can be related with them. Having recently been involved in the review and selection process of evaluating solutions for road work, it pays […]
Who Pays For What In A Condominium Water Leak Situation? (CO)
One of the most difficult questions posed to a condominium association board is: Who is responsible for damage caused by a water leak? For example: water comes through the roof, intrudes into and damages upper condo unit #1, passes through and damages the common element walls and floors along the way, then ends up in, […]
Condo association can charge fees for repairs
Q: I am in a dispute with my condo association concerning a large fee they have charged me to replace a toilet that was leaking in my unit. The condo board has decided not to pay for this plumbing repair. Since I also refuse to pay the repair bill, the condo board has notified the […]
Finding the Source of Leaks in a New Condo Can Be a Detective Story (NY)
The quest to find the source of leaks in a building’s envelope can turn into a detective story. In such cases, the sleuths try to solve a pair of mysteries: What is causing the leaks? And who is going to pay for the repairs? Read the article…………………………….
As Construction Reboots, Rules Must Be Enforced (NY)
Though co-ops and condos were allowed to resume their nonessential construction projects on June 8, not all are comfortable doing so. “Some construction opened up, only to close again,” says Eugene Ferrara, president of the engineering firm JMA Consultants. “Residents are afraid when workers are passing by open windows on the scaffolds. They also don’t […]
Tips to Deal with Structural Issues in High-rises
At some point in their lifetime, high-rise buildings will experience post-construction issues. In fact, nearly all residential high-rises enter litigation for a variety of reasons stemming from construction defects or deferred maintenance. Board members, community managers, maintenance supervisors, and service providers must pay attention to their buildings and look for signs of a problem before […]
HVAC and your HOA – Who is Responsible?
Summer is around the corner which means rising temperatures and increased usage of air conditioning systems. After many months of sporadic use HVAC systems go into overdrive as the summer months approach; the increase in use gives rise to a number of problems often-times requiring repair or replacement. Read the article…………………………
The Importance of Homeowners Association Upkeep (CA)
According to the David-Stirling Act, enacted in 1985 and revised in 2014, California HOAs function as a second or miniature civic government for the communities they serve. That means that there are certain levels of Homeowners Association exterior maintenance and upkeep that homeowners not only expect but are entitled to! Read the article……………………………..
Tracking maintenance requests
Property managers can count on creating maintenance requests. Sometimes they can even plan for scheduled maintenance repairs, however, they can’t always plan for exactly when an elevator will break down or a gate will stop working. Maintaining a condo or HOA could easily be a full-time job, but that is just one of the many […]
How Condo, Apartment Building Managers Are Keeping Residents Healthy During Coronavirus Pandemic
Monday morning blues has a whole new meaning in this age of coronavirus – for many, it is another week of working from home. CBS 2’s Lauren Victory wanted to know how apartments and condos are keeping residents healthy. She had a look Monday morning at the new rules and the new norm. Read the […]
Construction Progress Payments: The Hidden Trap (FL)
The owner of real property can end up paying twice when they pay their general contractor who, in turn, fails to pay the subcontractors and suppliers. However, this very real consequence can be avoided, too. While drafted to protect contractors and suppliers, Florida law also provides substantial protection in favor of the consumer (a.k.a, the […]
How to Handle a Water Leak (CO)
The last phone call an Association or its manager wants to receive is a call where the owner says “I have a water leak.” However, these calls happen and the Association must be prepared to efficiently and effectively deal with the situation. While leaks occur in all types of communities, single family, townhome, and condominium, […]
Why you may have to foot the bill to repair damage to your condo caused by a contractor hired by the association
Q: Last year, my condo association had a company replace the roof on many of our buildings. I live on the top floor of my building. When the new roof was installed, it created a leak that came down and damaged my kitchen ceiling. My association is stating that it is responsible only for the […]
Don’t hire members for work on homeowner association projects (MI)
Q: We hired a maintenance person for our homeowners association who was also an owner in our subdivision. We had to terminate him, and he is creating all kinds of problems for us. How do we deal with it? Read the Q&A……………………………
FAQs Regarding SB326, California Civil Code Sections 5551 and 5986 and the Balcony Bill
On August 30, 2019, Governor Newsom signed SB326 and it became law January 1, 2020. This law requires all California condominium associations with “exterior elevated elements” to have those elements inspected. We have been getting a lot of questions and this article is intended to address and answer those that we hear most frequently. Read […]
3 Steps to Identify Responsibility for Burst Pipes and Property Damage in an Association (IL)
With the upcoming winter weather, it’s inevitable that condominium, homeowner, and townhome associations will have to deal with pipe bursts, leaks, and the resulting property damage. Below are three initial steps board members and property managers can take to determine who is responsible for repairs, unit damages, and/or damage to common areas. Read the […]
Limitation on HOA Tort Liability for Failure to Uphold Maintenance Obligations (CA)
One of the primary purposes for which a homeowners’ association (“HOA”) is formed is to maintain and repair the HOA’s common areas, as well as any other areas designated within the HOA’s recorded Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (“CC&Rs”) (i.e., HOA Maintenance Areas). Faithfully executing the maintenance obligations under the CC&Rs is important to […]
Where to Look for Winter Damage in Your HOA
Winter is a harsh time for any building or structure. Between the ice, extreme cold, and the variable moisture penetration, almost anything degrades over the course of a snowy winter. As a community association, your job is to help make sure that both homes and common areas are safe as your community enters winter and […]