Malibu Country Estates recognized as ‘Firewise Community’ (CA)

The Malibu Country Estates (MCE) neighborhood, with its 107 homes adjacent to Pepperdine University, was officially recognized as a Firewise community on May 18 by Firewise USA. The program is part of the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the “Firewise” designation is expected to result in lower fire insurance premiums for individual homeowners.  […]

‘They worsen every day’: Ogden residents push for upkeep of crumbling roads (NC)

Once completed, the developer of an orphan road often hands over ownership of the road to a homeowner’s association that may not realize its upkeep hasn’t been formally transferred to the state’s department of transportation. When they do find out, the subdivision’s developer is often long gone, Hughes said.   Read the article………………………..

Mission Bay Building Owners Sue as Pipes Break Due to Subsidence (CA)

The Radiance, a 99-unit condominium building with entrances at 330 Mission Bay Boulevard and 325 China Basin Street, is suing the City for damages caused by subsidence, or sinking. The Radiance Owners Association (ROA) represents the interests of individual condominium owners and oversees common areas, such as sidewalks.   Read the article………………………..

‘Ruthless, unfair, unjust’: Pelican Lake Ranch residents complain of abusive behavior from POA board member (CO)

More than 10 neighbors at Pelican Lake Ranch have rallied together to address concerns they have with a property owners association board member’s alleged manipulative behavior.  The group of neighbors in the Pelican Lake community, located in Platteville, believe POA board member Tina Wernsman has brought bad blood to their residential community — a sentiment […]

Neighbor’s secondhand smoke a bother (FL)

Q: Can a condominium association ban smoking inside condominium unit? I have discomfort and health concerns related to my neighbor’s constant smoking.    Read the Q&A……………………………….

Not voting should not translate into a yes vote (NV)

Q: Does a homeowners association state law say that people who don’t vote on a referendum are counted as a yes vote? In our age-qualified community, only 10 percent voted on a recent critical issue. Our community has many very old people, who have no means or motivation to get involved in these votes. This […]

HOA Homefront: How do we end the reign of a terrible president? (CA)

Q: Our community has been under a reign of terror because of the leadership of an abusive president. He has been verbally abusive to many of the women who ask questions during open sessions and basically to anyone who questions his decision-making. Two female directors quit because of his dictatorship, screaming and intimidation. What options […]

Helderberg Lake Dam still needs funding, but threat of removal is low (NY)

Helderberg Lake Community Association President Tom McQuade still speaks about the group’s failed tax district proposal to the town of Berne with a grumble. But, while things are up in the air in terms of funding necessary repairs to the lake’s dam, he’s optimistic that the situation will get sorted out.   Read the article………………………..

Tilton condo owner agrees to cease cemetery disturbance (NH)

The owner of two condominium units adjacent to Lake Winnisquam has agreed to honor a cease-and-desist order that the selectboard issued following months of discussion about the developer’s desecration of the Philbrick family cemetery.   Read the article………………………..

Condo Column: Condos and credit agencies don’t mix (NH)

Every once in a while I get an inquiry from a condominium board of directors about reporting a delinquent owner to a credit reporting agency. I understand the urge. Boards frustratingly spend way too much time collecting money from someone who uses the pool, has their unit insured by the association, gets landscaping and snow […]

Kohl’s Ranch community gets fire evacuation plan (AZ)

A comprehensive fire evacuation plan was recently presented to the Kohl’s Tonto Creek Subdivision Homeowners’ Association at the summer potluck held July 23.  The plan was developed and presented by Bob Higel, who has served as the Firewise chair of the Kohl’s Tonto Creek Subdivision HOA, since 2013.   Read the article………………………..

Neighbors band together to evacuate animals during wildfire (TX)

Fire evacuees had to band together to save their beloved animals during the Hermosa Fire last week in Wimberley.  “I have quite a few horses, and a couple of mini donkeys and dogs and cats,” said Kellee Ferguson, the president of the River Mountain Ranch Property Owners Association. “So it was stressful.”  Read the article………………………..

Condo Safety Checks May Face Difficulties (FL)

New Fla. condo safety standards raise the bar for about 2M owners and set an extremely short timeline – and there may not be enough engineers to get the job done.   Read the article………………………..

Retirees, A Healthy Condo Has a Flush Reserve Fund

Champlain Tower South in Surfside, Fla., was in dire need of repairs when the 40-year-old building partially collapsed in June 2021, killing 98 people. In 2018, an engineer’s report identified significant structural damage, and a tentatively settled class action lawsuit alleges that work on a nearby building destabilized the Champlain structure. But there’s another culprit: […]

Valencia Reserve HOA Sues Over Lawn Killing Virus (FL)

The virus, which kills grass and other vegetation — starting with a brown “mosaic” but ultimately leaving dead lawns in its wake — is problematic in Valencia Reserve, according to the complaint. The Homeowners Association made an insurance claim under the “pollution loss” section of its policy — seeking money to mitigate the problem. But […]

Singh goes on attack against opponent in condo board race (NJ)

After losing five campaigns in five years, Singh is now competing in a six-way race for three seats on the Ocean Club Homeowners Association Board of Directors in a discordant election that is just two weeks away.   Read the article………………………..

Man Protests Two Tree Removals by Handcuffing Himself to Tree (CA)

The resident Andy Stinson sits under the shade of these Ficus trees every day to watch the sunset.  He believes that he is being retaliated at by the H.O.A. President of the City Scene H.O.A. and the trees have been ordered to be moved.   Read the article………………………..

HOA vice president has right to hear complaint against him (NV)

Q: I am vice president of our board of directors. The president received a complaint regarding me. I was told at the last meeting by our management company that I cannot attend the executive meeting because the president is going to discuss this complaint with the board members in my absence.  Read the Q&A……………………………….

HOA board members may participate virtually in meetings (FL)

Q:  My HOA has a seven-person board; at the start of each monthly meeting they count a quorum as those present in person and also those on the other end of an open cell phone line or some computer link. Can the board determine a quorum in this manner and are motions passed that count […]

Investors are buying condo buildings (IL)

Q. I live in a condominium. The association is fielding offers from prospective purchasers to buy the entire condominium property. The offers are for a lump sum for the entire property. How would each owner’s portion of the purchase price be determined?  Read the Q&A……………………………….

Q&A: Can the Board Inspect Abandoned Condos? (FL)

Question: I am a condo board member and we have an issue with a unit that we are worried is not being cared for by the owner, and we would like to go in there and do a mold inspection at least. The unit is empty (last tenant moved out months ago), and we have […]

Castaic residents see 1000% increase in fire insurance (CA)

Residents of a Castaic condominium complex are wondering why an estimated 1000% increase to their fire insurance rates would happen in as little as three years, but say answers to this question are hard to come by.   Read the article………………………..

Meadow Crest Homeowners Association honored by DANR (SD)

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) announced that the Meadow Crest Homeowners Association public water system and the system’s operation specialists have been awarded a Drinking Water Certificate of Achievement Award.  Read the article………………………..

Lakefront neighborhood campaigns for SADs (MI)

“(Road builders) gave us about a 15-year life expectancy for it, and we’ve far surpassed that up to 30, 35 years,” Dean Parent, Huron Pointe Homeowner’s Association vice president, said. “The roads are definitely in need of being taken care of.”  Believing the work must be done, the eastern Harrison Township group of homeowners is […]

Notice of board meetings must be posted (FL)

Q: It is my understanding that board meetings require paper posting of notice on the condominium property. However, our board does not always post notice saying that “they forgot.” What action can be taken to address a failure to post meeting notice as required?   Read the Q&A……………………………….

HOA Homefront: Insolvent board changing assessment allocations (CA)

Q: Our HOA has suspended reserve deposits, borrowed from reserves without disclosing to members the full borrowed amount or the repayment plan and not repaid borrowed funds within the required one year (also without disclosure to homeowners). Even before these actions, the reserve was “materially underfunded” according to the latest reserve studies. Obviously, the red […]

HOA hoping to net $800K to turn tennis courts into homes in BR neighborhood (LA)

A quiet, upscale enclave is hoping to net nearly $1,000,000 by selling and possibly subdividing its tennis courts.  The courts in the Walden subdivision were listed Friday for $800,000. According to a Realtor.com listing, the property is just shy of 1.5 acres and is a “huge opportunity” for someone to subdivide.   Read the article………………………..

5 Weird Rules Homeowners Associations Can Actually Enforce

Homeowners typically have a love-hate relationship with their homeowners association. They love the HOA for keeping the neighborhood, pools, and parks looking impeccable, but don’t always like how it goes about enforcing the rules. That means homeowners sometimes deal with tough guidelines or face stiff fees for infractions  Read the article………………………..