On March 17, a Lazzaro Drive resident, who is also the Parkside Court Homeowners Association president, came to the police station to report a theft in office claim. The man said earlier this year a woman resident had been voted out as treasurer. She was given to the end of January to relinquish all duties, […]
Fire at Mound condos injures 2, displaces up to 70 (MN)
A three-alarm fire broke out just before 5 p.m. Saturday, April 11 at a condominium complex in Mound, injuring two and displacing 60-70 people from their homes one day before the Easter holiday. Read the article………………………..
Multiple Lawsuits Filed Regarding 154 Homeowners Association Board (MO)
Two lawsuits have been filed this month against the 154 Homeowners Association, which is involved in three suits related in some fashion to the makeup of the board of directors. Former 154 Homeowners Association board member Jerry Coalter filed a suit against the association last week after he was removed from the board by other […]
1 Hospitalized After Family Escapes Westland Condo Fire (MI)
A Westland man is listed in stable condition at a local hospital after a fire broke out while his family slept. Authorities said the fire started at around 4 a.m Tuesday at a condominium in the area of Ann Arbor Trail and Middlebelt Rd. Read the article………………………….
Video of woman destroying geese nests in Florence has residents outraged (KY)
Video of a woman in Florence destroying geese nests at her condo complex and mutilating eggs is causing, well, quite a flap. But, it appears the is within the law because she was acting on behalf of the condo’s homeowners association. Read the article…………………………..
Fire Destroys Winter Park Condominium: Owner Hasn’t Been Located (CO)
One person is unaccounted for after an early morning fire at a condominium complex in Winter Park. The fire started just after 3 a.m. Monday. Read the article………………………………
Homeowners group says Fontana judge failed to pay his association dues (WI)
The Indian Hills Homeowners Association has filed a claim of more than $5,000 on the home of deceased Municipal Judge David Jensen, alleging that Jensen did not pay his membership dues for five years…….The association filed the lien on the Jensen home at 738 Adahi Way on March 13 — less than two weeks after […]
Meadowlake Subdivision Is Officially Part of City (MO)
After years of trying, the Meadowlake Farm subdivision is now a part of the city of Washington. On Monday night, the city council voted unanimously to welcome the 61-lot neighborhood, located off Pottery Road and south of Highway 100, into the city limits. The vote put the finishing touches on a project that City Administrator […]
Yucaipa HOA Wants Frontline Worker Isolating in RV to Move (CA)
A borrowed RV in his driveway is home now for Michael Avila-Cabral. It’s where he’s slept for the past two weeks, after working as a physician’s assistant in a San Bernardino emergency room treating patients with coronavirus. “We’ll do the best we can, and weigh the risk versus benefit. Try to find that balance,” Michael […]
Association must provide notice and chance for hearing before imposing fine (FL)
Q: I come to you with a problem regarding a $200 fine for not attending a hearing that I was not able to attend. The hearing was about two palm fronds outside my front gate (not visible from the street). Someone took a picture of the fronds and sent them to the board with a […]
HOA boards should try to provide complete agendas (NV)
Q: For several years, I have been reading and sharing with others your homeowners association Q&A articles published in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Thanks so much for writing those. I have had a couple of issues on my mind that have bothered me for some time and would like to present them to you for […]
Residents who refuse to follow the rules (FL)
Just about every planned community in Southwest Florida has governing documents recorded in the public records of the County containing various regulations as well as unrecorded “house rules” that the residents are supposed to follow in order to maintain a community of congenial, financially responsible residents with the objectives of protecting the value of the […]
HOA Homefront: Why not hire our neighbor?
A very common temptation in the HOA is to hire one of the members or a tenant to work for the association. The arguments often are that the resident or member is known to all, offering a discount, and knows the property well. Some HOAs even hire a resident to manage the association. Read the […]
Coronavirus: Residential fire in Indio tied to rental running ‘shelter-in-place special’ (CA)
Ilyad Khoury, president of Avail Property Management, a company that runs the homeowner’s association at the Montage development, said he has been receiving complaints about short-term vacation rentals being operated in violation of the various orders against them. Read the article………………………………
Residents in 11-unit condo in North Attleboro evacuated after early morning fire (MA)
Numerous people were evacuated from a multi-unit condominium building of Route 1A early Thursday morning following a small fire. The fire was traced to a dryer but filled the building with smoke, fire officials said. Read the article………………………….
Suburban woman forced to remove ‘Stay Home, Save Lives’ sign over homeowners’ association rules (IL)
A homeowner in the southwest suburbs is angry after she was told her sign promoting social distancing isn’t allowed. Bette Borse put a “Stay Home, Save Lives” sign in front of her house in Willowbrook. She said a neighbor complained that it’s in violation of their homeowners’ association’s rules about signs. Read the article……………………………
News 13 Investigates: Property Pitfalls (NC)
A News 13 investigation exposes a developer that’s facing hundreds of foreclosures and buyers who are faced with losing their investments. It’s happening in one mountain community development. Read the article……………………………
Leesburg firefighters battle blaze that damages four condo units (FL)
The crews were called Wednesday to a burning residence in the Highland Lakes area, which was confirmed when Engine 82 arrived on scene a short time later. Two condos suffered heavy damage in the blaze, while two others had moderate-to-heavy damage. Read the article……………………….
Man’s body found after he was seen struggling in pond at Fort Myers condos (FL)
Fort Myers Police Department confirms a man is dead after he was last seen struggling to swim in a pond at Village Creek Condominiums complex Saturday. According to the FMPD Facebook post, police were on scene at the condos off Winkler Avenue, where a man was seen struggling in a “retention type pond” and was […]
Homeowner celebrates big win over Rancho Bel Air HOA (NV)
An HOA Hall of Shame story Darcy Spears first broke years ago has finally come to a happy ending. The homeowner who fought his HOA all the way to the Nevada Supreme Court and won collected on his court judgment and is shouting about it from his rooftop. Read the article……………………………
Owners might have right to keep sunshade (IL)
Q: We own a condominium unit that faces west. More than 10 years ago, my husband and I approached the then board president and requested permission to install a sunshade on the exterior of the unit. The president gave us verbal permission, and we installed the shade. In 2019, the board filed a lawsuit against […]
Serrano residents take board members to task (CA)
The Serrano El Dorado Owners’ Association Board of Directors faces a recall by its homeowners, the aftermath of a letter to county agencies regarding Parker Development’s Central El Dorado Hills Specific Plan, which could be voted on by the El Dorado County Planning Commission as early as this spring. A portion of the CEDHSP hinges […]
Brighton Condo Residents Fed Up With Frequent Power Outages (MI)
Residents of a condominium complex in Brighton are unhappy with the frequent power outages that are occurring in their development. Residents of the Hamilton Farms condominiums say they have experienced five outages in a four-day period beginning last Thursday, and the most recent one — which took place early Sunday afternoon and didn’t end until […]
HOA responds to Clay County nurse’s ‘quarantine RV’ debate (FL)
The president of the board for a homeowners association under criticism for a policy not allowing a nurse to keep a recreational vehicle in her home has responded, a day after News4Jax published the report. The article, about a Clay County nurse who wanted to keep her motor home in her driveway in case she […]
Some pool closures cause frustration in Manatee County (FL)
Tara Preserve resident Debbie Tyo uses the community pool in Tara Preserve every day to help ease the pain in her back. The more active she stays, the less pain she feels. However, the pain is building. On March 16, the Tara Community Development District closed Tara Preserve’s pool, amenity center and racket courts. Read […]
HOA demands elderly woman clean driveway during coronavirus pandemic (FL)
An Osceola County woman felt her homeowners association crossed the line when it demanded she clean a dirty driveway during a pandemic. She thought it had to be a mistake, but then she heard it had to be done by Friday despite stay-at-home orders. Read the article……………………………
City of Aspen claims immunity against Burlingame Ranch HOA $8M claim (CO)
The homeowners association at Burlingame Ranch, a city of Aspen developed affordable housing complex, has hired lawyers as it claims the municipal government is responsible for paying $8 million in construction defects and other associated costs. Read the article………………………..
Convicted San Mateo HOA contractor has sentence cut (CA)
A painting contractor, convicted in the theft of $2.8 million from the homeowners association at Woodlake in San Mateo, had his prison sentence reduced by two years but the restitution upheld. Read the article……………………………..
Southern Nevada homebuilders challenged to use water efficiently
The availability of sufficient water resources to meet the needs of an expanding population will continue to be a challenge for the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association and its community partners over the next decade. Read the article……………………………..
A Phoenix woman wants to save a baby hummingbird. Her HOA may not let her
Caroline Davies has spent more time than usual outside since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Working from her north Phoenix home, she’ll take walks along the nearby canal as a break, maintaining proper social distance of course. It’s a chance to take in the beauty of her immediate environment. Read the article…………………………
Community Seeks County Water Service (MD)
Residents of the St. Martins by the Bay community are asking the county to connect them to public water. The Worcester County Commissioners have agreed to schedule a public hearing regarding a request from St. Martin’s by the Bay to expand the Ocean Pines Sanitary Service Area. The expansion, which has been petitioned for by […]
Two-Alarm Fire Scorches South Denver Condo (CO)
Three units of a south Denver condominium complex were damaged following a two-alarm fire Wednesday afternoon. Read the article………………………
City Approves Deals With Meadowlake – If Annexation Moves Forward (MO)
The city of Washington approved three pre-annexation agreements to prepare for the Meadowlake Farm subdivision to join the city. The subdivision, located off Pottery Road and south of Highway 100, is just outside the city limits. All 61 lots have applied for voluntary annexation after years of discussion with the city. Read the article…………………………….
Retiree bops away the coronavirus blues by blasting musical oldies for condo neighbors
Since hunker-down-at-home has become the new normal, “Boston Jimmy” Burns has been deejaying for his neighbors at the North Hampton Court condominiums in Pompano Beach. Not too long ago, he may have gotten some serious side-eye for cranking the volume, but since Thursday, it’s turned into a daily hour of communal good vibes starting at […]
Home Owners Encourage Healthy Purple Martin Colony (VA)
Billy Stone served as the HOA’s first president and was apparently a great avian enthusiast. During his tenure on the HOA Board, Billy solicited a group of other homeowners to help set-up bird houses for a colony of Purple Martins. The volunteers would periodically check them for competitor nests in spring and then in the […]
One person injured in early-morning condo fire in Burnsville (MN)
One person was seriously hurt in an early-morning condominium fire Saturday in Burnsville. According to the Burnsville Fire Department, firefighters responded to Ridgeview Condominums in the 2900 block of Nicollet Avenue South shortly after midnight on the report of a smoke alarm sounding in the building. Read the article……………………….
Airbnb hosts are upset that the company is refunding travelers but not covering hosts’ costs
Airbnb hosts are beginning to feel the impact of the coronavirus pandemic following a change by the company to its cancellation policy that has allowed guests traveling over the next month to receive full refunds on their bookings. Read the article……………………………….
HOA board sued over Club West course (AZ)
A newly formed nonprofit filed suit Monday against the Club West Community Association board, asking Superior Court to nullify its revision of land-use regulations governing the golf course. The dramatic legal move by the Club West Conservancy – made up of several dozen Club West homeowners – came as four investors prepared to unveil a […]
Coronavirus impacts HOAs and condominium boards (FL)
Q: Our residents are very concerned about the coronavirus. Some owners want the gym open and others are insisting that the board close the gym. Some owners want the association to deny entry to anyone with a fever. We also have our annual meeting next week and want to avoid hundreds of people but also […]
North Side Condo Residents on Edge After Neighbors Test Positive for Coronavirus (IL)
Two residents inside of a North Side condo building have been diagnosed with coronavirus, leaving more than 200 other residents fearing that they could be next. One of those residents, Ryan Graber, is taking a drastic step as a result of the positive tests: he’s leaving, and will stay with his parents in Texas. Read […]
Bratenahl condominiums concierge sentenced to 6-9 years for stealing over $200,000 worth of jewelry from residents (OH)
The concierge at Bratenahl Place condominiums was sentenced Wednesday to six-to-nine years in prison for stealing over $200,000 worth of jewelry from residents. Between Sept. 8 and Oct. 8, Anthony Djurovic entered four different apartments while residents weren’t home and stole the jewelry. Read the article……………………….
Sun City rec centers remained open Friday. Here’s how other Phoenix-area active adult communities are handling coronavirus (AZ)
A man jumped in the pool at the Lakeview Recreation Center in Sun City on Friday as the organ solo from The Zombies’ “Time Of The Season” played on the overhead speakers. Despite closures at nearby active adult communities, there’s no sign of Sun City scaling back. The spread of the novel coronavirus, which has […]
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions on Coronavirus (NY)
The coronavirus pandemic is forcing co-op and condo boards to navigate uncharted waters. No one has dealt with this kind of challenge before. In an effort to cut through the conflicting information that seems to multiply daily, we’ve put together a list of Frequently Asked Questions and posed them to players in the co-op and […]
Condo ‘Disaster’: Waikiki Maintenance Fees Hit $1,800 (HI)
Maintenance fees more than doubled in the last five years at the Waikiki Marina tower as the board has struggled with how to cover major repairs, especially a faulty elevator. Read the article………………………….
Crews battling fire at Brown Suburban Condominiums on Bardstown Road (KY)
Fire crews are on scene of the Brown Suburban Condominiums on Bardstown Road Sunday afternoon after reports of a structure fire. According to Metrosafe, calls came in around 12:38 p.m. to a structure fire on the 3300 block of Bardstown Road. Extra fire crews were requested on scene to help extinguish the fire. Read the […]
Plan to convert Sharpstown association to HOA ‘causing a lot of division’ (TX)
Brenda Harris couldn’t believe her eyes. She had heard that the civic association in Sharpstown, the west Houston neighborhood where she had grown up and now owns home, was thinking of updating its subdivision rules, but she hadn’t given the matter much thought. Then a neighbor began posting the proposed updates, paragraph by paragraph, on […]
Forcing removal of security light comes down to waiver and selective enforcement
I had a security spotlight installed 20 years ago on my garage to light my driveway. It was installed for safety reasons. There is nothing in our documents disallowing it and several other homeowners have spotlights also. Can I now be forced to remove it after passing inspections for 20 years? Read the Q&A……………………………..
Who pays for damage done to your condo? (WI)
One of the most common complaints that we get from condo owners is that damage took place at their unit, and now they are on the hook for repairs. For many, this does not seem fair. Many are especially upset if the damage was by something within the building or from another unit. Read the […]
When must a developer give the association control? (IL)
Q: Is there a deadline by which time the developer of our common interest community association must relinquish control of the governance of the association to the owners? Read the Q&A………………………………
When are closed board meetings allowed? (FL)
Q: As president of my condominium association, I believe it is time to fire our in-house manager and hire a new one. I obviously need the approval of the board to fire the manager. At the upcoming board meeting can the board go into “executive session” to authorize firing the manager? Read the Q&A………………………………….