When recent heavy rains swelled a private Mississippi lake and began eroding its earthen dam, Yazoo County Emergency Management Director Jack Willingham was scrambling for a plan. He had no contact information for any of the homeowners who might need to evacuate, so he drove to the scene and began knocking on doors. Read the […]
Security Cameras Damaged At Orland Park Condo Building (IL)
The prosecutor said Kleinpaste unplugged the security cameras in the lobby on Feb. 12. The condo association put boxes over the outlets, so they could not be tampered with. A few days later on Feb. 17, the prosecutor said Kleinpaste was captured on video hitting the outlet boxes with a pole. Read the article………………………..
POA will gather property records to put county on notice of restrictions (SC)
The creation of a new oceanfront lot at North Litchfield has prompted the area property owners association to ensure that Georgetown County is aware of deed restrictions in the area that prohibit subdivisions. By one estimate, 10 percent of about 700 lots are large enough to be subdivided under the current zoning if the restrictions […]
Road maintenance district could be established in Willow Point (AL)
March 3 all Tallapoosa County voters will be asked to vote on a constitutional amendment that, if passed, will apply to only Willow Point residents inside the gated neighborhood, according to Russell Lands vice president and general counsel Steve Forehand. Read the article………………………..
County launches investigation into Trotwood HOA (OH)
The Montgomery County Recorder has referred a case involving the Westbrooke HOA to the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office after residents said they can’t get answers about liens placed on their properties. Read the article…………………………
Condo column: Who’s responsible when neighbor’s tree falls in your yard? (FL)
Q: My neighbor’s tree fell on my yard during a bad storm. There was no damage to my home, but I want the tree off my yard. Who is responsible to remove the tree? Read the Q&A……………………………
HOAs Cannot Prevent Political Signs, But They Can Regulate Them (TX)
Some Texas cities could have hosted four different elections, including the race for congressional seats and the Presidential election, by the end of the year. During any election, it isn’t abnormal to see residential neighborhoods lined with signs of each resident’s preferred candidate or ballot measure — some houses with dozens in their front yard. […]
Strong odor prompts evacuations at Clearwater condo complex (FL)
A suspicious smell prompted the evacuation of condo complex in Clearwater on Wednesday. The Clearwater Fire and Rescue was called to the On Top of the World condos in the 2300 block of Jamaican Street around 7 a.m. after residents complained of an odor. Officials said crews were working the roof of the building and […]
Judge Orders Developer to Chop 20 Stories from Condo Tower (NY)
In this soft real-estate market, we’ve all heard about the condo price chop. Now comes the condo top chop. In a closely watched case, a state Supreme Court judge has ordered the developers of a nearly completed 668-foot luxury condo tower on the Upper West Side to take the extraordinary step of removing 20 or […]
Association Attorney Doesn’t Represent Owners (FL)
Q: As a condominium unit owner, am I entitled to any representation from the condominium association’s hired lawyer? Read the Q&A…………………………
Didn’t that used to be a golf course? Pasco plan says you better keep it mowed (FL)
The birdies and eagles at a closed golf course in Hudson have given way to vermin, snakes, mosquitoes and coyotes. That is the unflattering picture John Cybart painted for Pasco County commissioners four months ago when he asked the county to help protect his neighborhood’s property values. Cybart, president of the homeowners association at the […]
Jackson Township authorities warn of burglary uptick in senior communities (NJ)
Jackson Township is warning older residents to be aware of an uptick in burglaries in senior communities. Police say that nearly one dozen burglaries have occurred in several gated communities in the town. Authorities also say that a possible suspect has been captured on a security camera. Read the article……………………….
License plate cameras upgrade community watch – and intensify privacy concerns (NC)
Hang a left out of the parking lot of Spring Valley Elementary, down Northern Durham Parkway, and you’ll probably spot the sign before the camera. In red-and-white lettering, it warns the area is protected 24/7 by video surveillance from Flock Safety, an Atlanta-based company on a mission to solve crime. Nearby, small devices strapped to […]
Sprinkler Stops Fire At Kingstowne Condo (VA)
A sprinkler system put out a fire at a condo building Friday, Feb. 14 in Kingstowne, according to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue. The fire happened around 6:58 p.m. in the 6800 block of Brindle Heath Way. Firefighters arrived to find a sprinkler had already extinguished the fire. There were no injuries. Read the article…………………………
Wayne Co. judge: My gutted condo has $400K in damage — and no one will pay to fix it (MI)
Water leaks have forced a Wayne County judge and her husband, along with several others, to vacate their top-floor condos in the landmark Detroit high-rise 1300 Lafayette East. Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Hathaway and husband, DeWayne Hayes, a retired Wayne County Sheriff’s employee, own the largest residence in the iconic 30-story building, a condo that […]
Sprinkler system helped contain condo fire (WI)
A sprinkler system and fast-acting firefighters keep a fire in a downtown La Crosse condo unit from spreading further Monday morning. The La Crosse Fire Department was called to the Gateway Terrace Condominiums at 100 North 6th Street at 9:18 a.m. after a fire alarm was reported. Read the article………………………….
Garner HOA says military mom’s ‘holiday lights’ supporting son must come down (NC)
Garner homeowner Nancy Turner has been in a back and forth with her HOA due to a string of lights hanging from her front porch. Turner said a recent email from Sentry Management essentially said: “You need to take your holiday lights down.” “Until he’s back home, we are going to support him,” replied Turner. […]
HOA stopping speeders in the community by fining homeowners for their violations and their guests (FL)
A local community is combating speeders by impacting homeowner’s wallets. If a homeowner is caught speeding by one of the HOA community’s cameras, they’ll get fined. The Andros Isle Property Owner’s Association Board is discussing the new resolution at a meeting Tuesday night. Read the article………………………..
Pokin Around: A gate goes up, blocking private road; affluent neighborhood rattled (MO)
Something happened early this month that apparently has rattled a secluded Springfield neighborhood of broad lawns and beautiful homes. A metal gate went up blocking a narrow, private and potholed road that connects the Brentwood neighborhood with King’s Way United Methodist Church, at 2401 S. Lone Pine Ave. This might not seem like a big […]
Ivy Quad condos in South Bend tangled in legal fight and accusations of sloppy construction (IN)
It was supposed to be a little slice of heaven for well-heeled alumni, faculty and even students at the University of Notre Dame. The Ivy Quad development along Twyckenham Drive, across from the Eck Tennis Pavilion, is an easy walk from the many activities on campus, as well as restaurants and shopping. The architecture mimicked […]
Complaint letters from neighbor to HOA board are inspectable records; ‘no pet’ rule in question (FL)
I have a neighbor who has been on a mission to harass my family and to make our lives miserable in our community, and we haven’t even moved in yet. She has been telling other neighbors how bad we are and spreading vicious rumors and lies… Read the Q&A………………………….
Watch out, homeowners. Your insurance rates are about to jump (FL)
Florida homeowners had better watch their wallets in 2020 — and ask their insurance agents to shop for cheaper deals. The torrent of insurance price hikes predicted after Hurricane Irma barreled up Florida’s gut in September 2017 is here. Read the article……………………….
Limit on charging transfer fees? (FL)
Q: My condominium association imposes strict limitations on the rental of units. The condominium documents include a requirement for the board to review and approve all proposed leases and tenants. The condominium documents also permit the association to charge a fee up to the highest amount the law allows to cover the cost of the […]
Association, board member must follow contract procedure (IL)
Q: Our condominium association owns a unit it leases out to third parties. One of the board members is a real estate agent for a real estate company and wants to act as leasing agent for the association regarding this unit. He would be paid a commission by the real estate company for whom he […]
Plantation Pines HOA offers free acreage to Volusia County for fire station, residents oppose proposal (FL)
A vote on Feb. 24 will decide whether the HOA will donate 10 acres of its land to the county. Some residents worry this will change the rural nature of their community. Read the article……………………..
Neighbor’s large old pine tree does appear to be a nuisance (NV)
Q: The homeowners association I belong to has a nuisance paragraph in the covenants, conditions and restrictions. My neighbor has a very large old pine tree whose limbs are lying on my roof, damaging the roof tiles and providing a bridge for fire and pests. My attorney friend says this is an obvious example of […]
Elderly blind man says homeowner’s association fined him $2,000 for weeds in his yard (FL)
Jose Torres is 79 years old and legally blind. He faced $2,200 in homeowner association fines for weeds. “I don’t understand what they’re doing. I don’t understand,” Jose Torres said. Jose Torres relies on friends to read his mail. He found out last May that the Chickasaw Trails Homeowners Association fined him $184 because his […]
Blame for damage at Plaza Towers in historic Grand River flood will be left to jurors (MI)
The attorney for Plaza Towers Condominium Association says the city owes millions in damages after a devastating flood along the Grand River in 2013. The association is claiming “inverse condemnation” after Plaza Tower’s riverside parking garage filled with 5 feet of water – 1.6 million gallons. Read the article………………………..
HOA Homefront: Need an assistance llama? HUD says not so fast
Assistance animals are very important to certain disabled people. Under the federal Fair Housing Act and California Fair Housing Regulation section 12005(d), such animals are not pets, and housing providers — including HOAs — must make reasonable accommodations to permit such animals. Read the article………………………….
Volusia couple says retention pond is creeping closer to home (FL)
A Volusia County couple said the retention pond behind their home is creeping closer and closer, and they believe the clock is ticking before it damages their property. The view from Norman and Barbara Blodgett’s Florida room is picture-perfect, except the view is getting too close for comfort. Read the article……………………………
Gas Leaks Cause Concern in San Jose Condominium Complex (CA)
A San Jose man said he had two major gas leaks that went undetected for some time and now, he worries the entire complex might be vulnerable. The topic will come up at the Creekside Condominium Complex homeowner’s association as residents doubt it was an isolated incident. Read the article…………………………..
Oro Valley Homeowners Association responds to renter with flagpole in question (AZ)
Thursday night, News 4 Tucson spoke with Joseph Lumpkins, the HOA board president. “First of all, we didn’t bully him,” Lumpkins said. “We don’t talk to him. We talk to the management company, his management company. You can’t attach anything to a common wall. We own that common wall. That’s our wall, the association’s wall.” Read the […]
Johns Creek, homeowners, county to share dam repair costs (GA)
The Johns Creek City Council has approved cost-sharing agreements with a homeowners association and Fulton County for repairs – initially estimated at $1 million – to bring the Seven Oaks Lake dam into compliance with state regulations. Read the article……………..
Chattanooga couple says condo complex won’t repair leaking roof causing mold and water damage (TN)
A Chattanooga couple says they have major damage to their condo because the roof of their building has been leaking for two months. Pots, pans, and towels litter the floor of Vickie Holloway’s condo, discoloration is visible on the walls and ceiling from water damage. Read the article………………………….
HOA looks at bank theft, employee fraud (CA)
Lost Hills Sheriff’s deputies arrested the former manager of the Lake Lindero Homeowners Association Feb. 12 for violating a temporary restraining order that required him to keep away from the HOA tennis and swim club at Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Lake Lindero Drive. Bail for the 45-year-old Chris Barone of Agoura Hills was set at […]
Condo living: How can we increase the number of our board of directors? (FL)
Q: All of the windows in our condominium were replaced about eight years ago and many units are experiencing water leaks around the windows.The contractor is telling us that the windows are covered under a warranty, but the manufacturer is telling us that the windows were installed incorrectly. How do we make sense of this […]
Elderly Residents Struggling With Cost of Compliance (NY)
Co-ops and condos with a high ratio of senior citizens that qualify as Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) are facing a dilemma citywide. Every time the Facade Inspection and Safety Program (FISP) cycle or some other major capital project comes around, boards have to get creative with their financing – or risk pricing out their […]
FHP terminates contract with embattled HOA after trooper asked to trespass homeowner (FL)
The Florida Highway Patrol has terminated a contract for off-duty patrols inside a Kissimmee community after a trooper was asked to enforce a fake trespass warning to a homeowner. Channel 9 investigative reporter Karla Ray has been following a back and forth legal battle between neighbors and the home owners association management company in the […]
Almost a year after fire, residents of 24 condos in NKY still displaced
It’s been almost a year since 24 condos in Northern Kentucky were destroyed in a fire. The people who live there figured the rebuild would take a while, but they weren’t counting on it taking this long. Condo owners were told at the beginning of March they’d get their keys back and they’d be able […]
Liens imposed on Trotwood homes damaged by tornadoes, residents say (OH)
Community members who talked to News Center 7 say they don’t know why the treasurer is doing it but it is untimely because many of them have been displaced from the Memorial Day Tornadoes or they are living in their homes while trying to rebuild. Read the article………………………….
How To Handle Increasing Member Assessments (NC)
Having a proper, fiscally responsible budget in place is necessary for the successful operation of any homeowner’s association. Just as with any budget, income and expenses must be considered ? for an HOA, this income mainly comes in the form of owner assessments. When projecting yearly expenses for an association, those serving on boards of […]
Jupiter police warn of burglars posing as landscapers, HOA construction workers (FL)
The Jupiter Police Department wants residents to be aware of thieves posing as landscapers or HOA construction workers. Officer said the strangers, a man and woman, are knocking on people’s front doors and are carrying walkie-talkies. The thieves attempt to gain access to the homeowner’s backyards. Read the article……………………….
HOA wants Oro Valley man to take down flagpole (AZ)
About a year ago, Don Knetzger of Oro Valley, Ariz. strung up lights to his flagpole in his backyard so he could see his barbecue more easily at night. Knetzger told News 4 Tucson he recently got a letter in the mail from his homeowner’s association. Read the article………………………
Water leak causes ceiling to collapse at Raleigh condominiums (NC)
Three families were forced to leave their homes overnight after a ceiling collapsed in Raleigh. The Raleigh Police Department said a water leak at the Stoney Hollow Condominiums, located on Longstreet Drive in north Raleigh, caused the collapse. Read the article……………………………
Noisy Air Conditioner Generates Complaints (FL)
Q: Two owners in my condominium building had their air conditioner units moved to the roof of the building. Is this allowed? The association has not had the units moved back. Don’t we need to vote to change our common elements? Read the Q&A………………………………
Condo and Homeowner Association Board Members VIP Meetings (FL)
Two years ago, Aventura Commissioner Dr. Linda Marks approached the Aventura Marketing Council/Chamber of Commerce (AMC) about her idea for a new committee. With over 100 associations in Aventura, she noted, “there is a need to provide information on topics that are affecting all association Board Members while encouraging them to share their own expertise […]
As bankruptcy case winds down, investors have yet to emerge for troubled Clairton community (PA)
June Ingram, a longtime resident of Century Townhomes in Clairton, can still recall the summer-like day in May 2018 when residents of the 425-unit apartment complex had their water turned off. Pennsylvania American Water restored service about six hours later that same day, following a bankruptcy filing by the Century homeowners’ association, but the experience […]
Family jumps to safety, 2 rescued after condo fire displaces 60 (GA)
Two men were rescued and a family was forced to jump from a balcony after a large fire broke out Wednesday at a South Fulton condominium complex. Read the article…………………………..
You may need attorney to force annual meeting (MI)
Q: We recently moved to a planned community: single family homes with lawn, landscaping and road maintenance provided. The bylaws require an annual meeting. I’ve been informed this annual meeting has not taken place in the past 10 years. The development is about 90 percent complete. There is an advisory committee but no general meeting. […]