Q. I live in a large, professionally managed condominium association and believe there are irregularities regarding the board’s administration of the association. Examples include disbursements of association funds and the approval of contracts without a board vote at a board meeting, and unit owners do not receive financial reports. What information is a unit owner […]
Exec: Aging condos like the one that fell in Surfside need financial watchdogs
Aging condos in Florida should be certified as safe every three years, not every 10 and certainly not every 40 as required in current law, said an executive with the finance company that warned of impending disaster before the June 2021 collapse of a 12-story condo in Surfside. Read the entire article……………………………….
Priced Out of Paradise: Condo owners, buyers face sticker shock following Surfside tragedy (FL)
After the collapse of the Champlain Towers South condo in Surfside last year, the cost of living safely in a condominium has never been more of a focus in Florida. Read the entire article……………………………….
So many fire escapes in Boston haven’t been inspected. What this means if you own a home or buy (MA)
On July 22, 1975, in Boston, 19-year-old Diana Bryant and her 2-year-old goddaughter Tiare Jones fled a blaze in a Marlborough Street building by climbing onto the fire escape. It collapsed before firefighters could reach them. Bryant died, but the child, who landed on her, survived. A photojournalist snapped chilling photos of the pair falling […]
Condo questions: Can a director’s company be awarded contracts? (FL)
Q: Our homeowner’s association recently decided to look for a new landscaping company and requested bids from various vendors. One of these companies is owned by one of our directors. Read the Q&A………………………………….
College Place agrees to take ownership of private infrastructure at Autumn Meadows to ensure improvements are made (WA)
The Autumn Meadows Homeowners Association, which governs a residential subdivision in College Place, has agreed to transfer ownership of all privately owned infrastructure to the city and pay around $200,000 for that infrastructure to be brought up to city standards. Read the entire article……………………………….
Residents of Atlantic City condo complex told to stay off balconies due to structural issues (NJ)
A towering condo complex in Atlantic City is warning residents to stay off their balconies because of structural concerns. Those who live in the Ocean Club Condominiums, located along the Atlantic City Boardwalk, say that they are frustrated. Read the entire article……………………………….
Land lease fee disparities divide Oceana senior community (CA)
Residents of the Oceana senior community are divided over a controversial community measure that will equalize land lease fees for everyone living in the community, lowering monthly rent payments for the majority of members while raising monthly payments for others. Read the entire article……………………………….
Delmar family says it’s facing eviction due to HOA complaints (NY)
Unika Timmons was hopeful she could make her new rental unit more than just temporary for her partner and her 10- and 14-year-old sons. “I definitely wanted to be in this type of environment where we had neighbors that were close, and we can mingle and be a family community,” said Timmons. But with allegations […]
Gates proposed for Mooresville townhomes opens authorization debate (NC)
It’s commonplace for issues between residents and their homeowners association (HOA) to become contentious at times, but those issues usually never leave the confines of an association board meeting at the neighborhood clubhouse. What’s not commonplace is for HOA discord to spill over into a meeting of local government officials, but that’s precisely what happened at […]
Citrus County tells homeowners group to pay for U.S. 98 median sod (FL)
A Citrus County community is on the hook for paying the county to sod a mile of U.S. 98 median after a landscaping agreement fell apart. Citrus County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to bill the Oak Village Homeowners Association the cost, estimated at $36,000, to re-sod the median after the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) […]
Huntsville Police officers will soon access more security cameras around the city (AL)
HPD Investigator Mike Eichhorn says they’re mostly on Homeowners Association buildings and private businesses. He says every Flock camera in Huntsville will be privately owned, HPD will not be buying any additional cameras. Read the entire article……………………………….
Stafford residents question local HOA over tennis court (TX)
A new tennis court finished last year in Stafford’s Promenade subdivision has a group of residents questioning their local homeowners association, asking who’s to blame for designing a court that is too small to use. Read the entire article……………………………….
DCRA cites Homeowners’ Association President for creating a ‘hazard to life and safety’ in SE condos (DC)
Saturday, a resident recorded cellphone video of Homeowners Association President Marcus Little seemingly violating District building code by tearing down a Stop Work Order placed there by housing inspectors last week. Residents said Mr. Little left the building in such disrepair refusing to use their association fees to fix the growing problems. Read the entire […]
Condo cracks appear during construction of the Southwest light rail line (MN)
Construction of a tunnel for the Southwest light-rail line in a narrow stretch of Minneapolis’ Kenilworth corridor may have led to cracking in walls and floors at the nearby Calhoun Isles condominum towers. Read the entire article……………………………….
SCORE Looking For Suggestions For Next HOA Workshop (NC)
On Feb. 1 Transylvania County SCORE and its partners held a Zoom workshop on getting the most from a Homeowner/property Association (HOA). Read the entire article……………………………….
Owners must be allowed to speak at board meetings (FL)
Q: At our last board meeting – held via Zoom – the owners were muted and the “chat” feature was disabled. Is this legal? Read the Q&A………………………………….
Woodlands Development Supporters and Opposition Face Down at WHOA Elections (FL)
The upcoming Homeowners Association elections in the Woodlands community have split residents into those who support the 13th Floor Homes development of the former golf course and those who vehemently oppose it. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condo at The Island on Lake Travis suffers structural damages after fire breaks out (TX)
A condo at a gated Lago Vista community suffered structural damages after a fire broke out Friday night. The Travis County Emergency Services District 1 said in a Facebook post that crews responded to a structure fire Read the entire article……………………………….
In Everett, many new apartments, but where are the condos? (WA)
Developers throughout Washington began to think twice about building affordable or market-rate condominiums. A state law aimed at protecting condo owners ignited a flurry of questionable lawsuits against condo developers, causing insurance premiums for builders to skyrocket. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront – An election tie and another has no elections (CA)
Q: We had an election where three people ran for two positions and the second and third place vote-getters tied. Without giving an explanation or detailed procedure they stated that they had to resolve it at a later meeting because candidate 3 was not in attendance. Read the Q&A……………………………….
Fannie Mae now requires robust reserves (IL)
Q: Can you describe some of the key points of the new Fannie Mae condominium lender guidelines? Read the Q&A………………………………
Lake association proposing dam repair will allow some burdened properties to opt out (NY)
The Helderberg Lake Community Association, which is attempting to secure $500,000 to repair the Helderberg Lake dam through a town-managed loan, has responded to concerns raised by lake residents unhappy with the way the process has played out. Read the entire article……………………………….
‘Surfside’ Florida Condo Collapse Brings Changes To New Jersey
The Condominium sector changed forever on Thursday, June 24, 2021 and few realized it until now. At 1:22 a.m., The Champlain Towers South, of a 12-story beachfront condominium in the Miami suburb of Surfside, Florida partially collapsed. It resulted in the deaths of 98 people. It has brought into question whether regular and proper structural […]
Atlantic City Ocean Club Residents Told They Can’t Use Balconies (NJ)
Multiple residents at Atlantic City’s Ocean Club Condominiums have reached out to us and they’re not happy. The residents have received official notification that they are not allowed to go out on their balconies, effective immediately. Read the entire article……………………………….
Residents of SE DC condo forced to move out due to unsafe conditions
The city has ordered residents of a Southeast Washington condominium building out before Monday due to unsafe conditions that some residents blame on the head of their condo association. Read the entire article……………………………….
Battle of the Las Vegas grass: What must go? (NV)
It’s a busy Thursday along Valle Verde in Henderson. The landscaping crew for the Green Valley Ranch HOA is removing more grass, some of the 400,000 square feet the HOA plans to remove over the next few years. Read the entire article……………………………….
Groves officials investigate unusual staircase incident at condominium (TX)
Fire and building code officials in Groves are investigating an unusual incident at a condominium. Tenants in two upstairs units waking up to find they had no way to get downstairs. View the news report……………………………….
I-Team: Condo safety changes and concerns in the wake of Surfside (FL)
For the past several months, the CBS 12 News I-Team has been working on a series of reports about condo safety and the changes that could be coming to state law, on the heels of the Surfside tragedy. Read the entire article……………………………….
Watch this: Mail thief has regular stop at South Beach condo, residents say nothing’s been done
A person is caught on video taking mail from a South Beach condo building and stuffing it in a bag, but he’s not a mailman. In the video, the mail thief looks around to see if anyone is watching and then dumps more mail in a bag. It has happened more than a few times at […]
‘It’s Unscrupulous’: Homeowners in SW Miami-Dade Community Upset Over HOA Fee Hike (FL)
Neighbors who live in the Hammocks, a large southwest Miami-Dade community, are up in arms. They say their monthly association fees will increase astronomically. “They’re basically pricing people out of their homes,” said resident Alan Chevel. Chevel and his Cedar Landing neighbors are bracing for a major monthly hike in their HOA fees. Read the […]
South Jersey man who went viral for racist rant indicted on multiple charges, prosecutors say
On July 2, Mathews was caught on video repeatedly calling his Black neighbor racial slurs in a tirade brought about by an ongoing dispute related to the homeowners association in the Essex Place Condominiums where he lived. Read the entire article……………………………….
Q&A: What’s Condo Law on Charging Stations? (FL)
Question: An owner in our condominium has requested permission to install an electric vehicle charging station in his parking space. We reviewed the law and have several questions about this. Read the Q&A…………………………………..
Residents of aging Shoreline Towers condo throw out HOA ahead of multi-million dollar renovations (FL)
Residents of Shoreline Towers Condominium complex have succeeded in their effort to remove the majority of members from the building’s homeowner’s association governing board. Read the entire article……………………………….
Ask the HOA Expert: Why Board Business Should Only Be Done At Board Meetings
Question: Our board president likes to conduct business by email. The board hasn’t met face to face for almost a year. Read the Q&A……………………………….
National Bank Fraud Affecting Local Residents (NC)
Pinewild Homeowner Association president Leighton Smith said that he believes that up to 25 people in the gated community have received checks from accounts started in their names. The association this week worked to get the proper information in the hands of the homeowners to protect their current accounts and their credit score. Read the […]
Firefighters clearing brush in Estates fuel break to prevent and slow wildfires (CA)
When firefighters aren’t out battling blazes, they’re spending time locally on preventing and slowing the spread of wildland fires by managing fuel breaks. Read the entire article……………………………….
Can Condo Owners Request a Resident Master List? (FL)
Answer: You are correct that pursuant to Section 718.111(12)(a)(7), Florida Statutes, a current roster of all unit owners, and their mailing addresses, unit identifications, voting certifications, and, if known, telephone numbers, are official records to be maintained at all times by all Florida condominium associations. Read the Q&A…………………………………..
California Wildfires’ Impact HOA Insurance
Severe weather and natural disasters have been a challenge for communities in different parts of California for decades, from droughts to earthquakes to wildfires. The state’s most recent wildfire season is putting pressure on insurance companies to cut back on coverage to homeowners. Read the entire article……………………………….
Co-op Nearly Burned by Heat Pump Installers (NY)
Many co-op and condo boards in New York City have begun grappling with ways to reduce their buildings’ carbon emissions so they can avoid looming fines under the city’s ambitious Climate Mobilization Act. But even the best intentions can run up against a cruel economic reality: the appetite for clean energy systems appears to be […]
Surfside condo’s sister building gets structural supports (FL)
Seven months after an oceanfront condominium collapsed and killed 98 people near Miami, temporary structural supports have been added to areas in the underground garage of its sister tower. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condo questions: Is board required to give owners notices who are not full-time residents? (FL)
Q: A large percentage of the owners in our condo building live out of town for at least part of the year. The board posts notices of all meetings on the bulletin board in one of the common area rooms of the building. Is the board required to give these notices to the owners who […]
Jefferson County HOA sues management company and bank (AL)
A Jefferson County Homeowners Association is suing its management company, and the bank that held its money. A lawsuit filed by the Black Creek Station Subdivision alleges that Rouland Management Services (RMS), it’s owner, and an employee, mismanaged and even stole HOA dollars that were entrusted to it. Read the entire article……………………………….
Longtime owners will get to update deed restrictions (CO)
The Aspen-Pitkin County Housing Authority on Wednesday supported moving forward with a program that would benefit homeowners who would like to enter into a new deed restriction. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Dues Debt Relief From Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency (OK)
For Oklahomans struggling with delinquent HOA dues as a result of Covid-19 financial hardship, a relief grant may be available. The Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency, through the American Rescue Plan Act, presently has in excess of $73M available in relief aid. Read the entire article……………………………….
Displaced Waukesha Condo Residents To Appeal Demolition Order (WI)
Residents of a deteriorating Waukesha condominium retained a lawyer and are in the process of appealing a raze order. The city of Waukesha issued a raze order on Horizon West Condominiums, after 65 residents were forced to evacuate the structure in December. Read the entire article……………………………….
Sundial Drive HOA Benefits from Replacing all its Nonfunctional Turf (NV)
When the Sundial Drive Homeowners Association (HOA) mulled the pros and cons of keeping its water-thirsty grass in 2020, the HOA board decided to survey its residents for input. The board had to decide whether to raise HOA fees to cover water and landscape maintenance costs or replace the turf with a water-efficient alternative. Read […]
Homeowners paying thousands after sprinklers run for hours after small fire put out (GA)
Some Cobb County homeowners are shelling out thousands of dollars in repair fees after the sprinklers in their homes ran for hours after a small fire was put out. Read the entire article……………………………….
Feds: Dedham official bilked R.I. condo association out of $46,500 to go to Plainville casino (MA/RI)
A Dedham town official allegedly defrauded a Woonsocket condominium association out of $46,500 to fund her personal expenses and gambling at Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville, prosecutors said Monday. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condo fire in Helena injures at least one (MT)
As the fire department worked to contain the blaze, police helped evacuate nearby residences. At least one occupant of the condo was injured, however, the extent of their injuries is unknown. Read the entire article……………………………….