Q: First, is an HOA board allowed to have meetings during a “social gathering,” such as dinners and drinks at a board member’s house, where they discuss community business without noticing the owners? Second, if a notice is given or posted (our governing documents say three days’ notice is required) is that business days or all […]
County-HOA median mess heads back to commission (FL)
A terse letter from the county attorney’s office apparently wasn’t enough to persuade The Sugarmill Woods Oak Village Homeowners Association (HOA) to honor its contract and maintain its share of the median along U.S. 98. So the whole matter once again comes back to county commissioners for a decision. Read the entire article……………………………….
Residents of Columbia condo building say they’ve been unable to go home since October (MD)
Residents of a condominium in Howard County say their building was evacuated in October and they have not been able to get back inside since then. Concord House, located across the street from Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, also has a padlock on the front doors of the building. Read the entire article……………………………….
Decatur Shores Community Association response to the Journal (WA)
This letter is in response to the San Juan Journal article, dated Tuesday Dec. 7, titled “Decatur residents upset over changes in mail delivery services”, written by Sienna Boucher. Read the entire article……………………………….
Decatur Island continues to search for solutions for mail obstruction (WA)
Some Decatur Island residents have been expressing concern over changes that have been made to their mail system put in place by the Decatur Shores Community Association. Read the entire article……………………………….
Villager worried political flags ruining friendliness in The Villages (FL)
She took her concerns about political flags Friday morning to the Community Development District 1 Board of Supervisors. She said her father was active in the homeowners association and at one point had to remove a flag he was flying. It was a Snoopy Christmas flag. Fuller said it appears all restrictions on flags have […]
Condo Adviser: Who is responsible for leaks caused by an air-conditioning system serving a single unit? (IL)
Q. I am on the board of a midsize condominium building and a top floor unit has two leaks in the ceiling. It has been determined that the cause of the leaks is condensation around air-conditioning ducts due to improperly insulated duct work relating to the unit’s air-conditioning system. Each unit has its own air-conditioning […]
Unpaid Fines Can Have Consequences (FL)
Q: What happens is I refuse to pay a fine for violating the association’s governing documents? Read the Q&A……………………………………
Community Law Q&A (FL)
Q: My condominium association is holding an election in one week for the next year’s board of directors. It sent out a second notice of annual meeting and election, a ballot, and two envelopes so the owners can cast our votes. However, I don’t think that the association ever posted the second notice of annual […]
Pflugerville disc golf course draws lawsuit, petition over safety concerns (TX)
The first nine holes of Falcon Pointe disc golf course are at the city-owned Central Park at Falcon Pointe, 18720 Falcon Pointe Boulevard. The second nine holes of the course are across the street on land owned by the Falcon Pointe Homeowners Association except for a pond that is owned by Travis County Municipal Utility […]
Veteran Turns to Ted after months of waiting for HOA to approve disability accommodation (TX)
Miles began reaching out to the city to get approval for the work and had no issues there. But when he told his homeowner association he wanted to add just 24 inches to the sides of his driveway, he couldn’t get the approval. Read the entire article……………………………….
Some Helderberg Lake residents oppose petition that would create special tax district (NY)
A proposal for the town of Berne to create a special tax district around Helderberg Lake to repair the high-hazard dam there is opposed by a handful of lake residents who aired their grievances at a packed public hearing. Read the entire article……………………………….
Miramar association, pest control company cited after dozens of neighborhood geese were killed (FL)
Residents of a Coconut Shores neighborhood inside Miramar’s Silver Lakes community are upset over what happened to the beautiful geese that used to fill their lake. Those residents now say what happened to those geese was cruel. Read the entire article……………………………….
Residents of Kaka’ako high-rise say they were promised luxury, but got leaky fire sprinklers instead (HI)
The 2-year-old building on Halekauwila Street is outfitted with modern furniture, a movie theater, karaoke room, as well as a sky lanai overlooking downtown Honolulu. But occupants of the mixed-use residential condo argue its looks are deceiving. “Since pretty much the move in, we’ve experienced lots of issues related to safety and security of the […]
South Carolina man told to take down Christmas lights
A South Carolina man says his Christmas display will have to come down after the HOA’s property management company told him his decor violates the master deed and bylaws. Read the entire article……………………………….
Fairhope veteran training new service dog amid legal battle with HOA (AL)
The legal battle between a Baldwin County veteran and his homeowner’s association continues as he claims the Fairhope Motorcoach Resort seeks to prevent him from having a service dog in the neighborhood. Read the entire article……………………………….
Pool Guy Slips, Falls, Now Sues Boca Raton Condo Association (FL)
A man whose job involves water is suing the Mizner Tower Condominium Association after he claims he slipped and fell while working on the property. Read the entire article……………………………….
Residents Given 2 Weeks To Vacate Homes In Woodridge (IL)
Woodridge residents were recently given two weeks to vacate their homes, so the homeowners’ association can shut off the facility’s water until spring 2022 to avoid freezing pipes as crews continue to work to repair damage from an EF-3 tornado in June. Village officials recently announced that they are working with the relief fund, Woodridge […]
Fort Myers gives luxury condo developer break from minority contractor requirement (FL)
The developer of a luxury condominium complex in downtown Fort Myers will get a break from complying with a city requirement that at least 15% of contractors on the job be minority-owned enterprises. Read the entire article……………………………….
Co-op and Condo Owners Get a Lifeline Against Foreclosure (NY)
Co-op shareholders and condo unit-owners are among the New York homeowners who will be eligible to apply for $539 million in federal pandemic-relief funding to catch up on their debt and stay in their homes, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced. Read the entire article……………………………….
Cedar Falls City Council stands by planning staff, developer in support of Creekside Condos (IA)
The developer of the future Creekside Luxury Condos at the corner of Cedar Heights and Valley High drives did enough in the eyes of City Council to appease some 100 HOA residents who had signed a petition in opposition to them last year. Read the entire article……………………………….
Austin to ‘determine steps forward’ with ‘reactive’ building inspection approach (TX)
Austin is working to “determine [its] steps forward in addressing existing buildings” following KXAN questions about its “reactive” approach to building inspections and a Miami-area condo collapse in June that killed 98 people. Read the entire article……………………………….
Auburn City Fire Department and HOA team up for fuel reduction work (CA)
What began as a complaint of a dying tree has resulted in 40 acres of fire risk reduction work and a partnership between a local homeowners association and the Auburn Fire Department. Read the entire article……………………………….
City working on cataloging, regulating Laredo HOAs (TX)
During the Laredo City Council meeting, Homeowners Associations landed on the radars of local leaders. Councilmembers discussed on Monday night cataloging and having regulations for HOAs to allow easier access for residents and to protect them from abusive behavior. Read the entire article……………………………….
Reminder: How carbon monoxide detectors are important (MA)
Last week, a carbon monoxide detector helped to save the lives of residents in a Agawam condo complex. Carbon monoxide is dangerous because it’s a colorless, odorless gas that is produced when fuel is burned, so you can’t see it or smell it. If it is not vented properly, it can accumulate inside of buildings […]
Cost to repair condemned condos outweighs building’s worth, contractor says (WI)
The people evacuated from their condemned condominiums in Waukesha are being told they’ll never be able to live there again. Watch the news report…………………………………
Waukesha condo owners fear major losses if insurance doesn’t accept claims (WI)
People who live in the condo that was evacuated last week in Waukesha now say they are worried insurance may not cover all of their losses. Read the entire article……………………………….
Decatur Island in a state of unrest after being cut off from mail delivery services (WA)
Decatur Island residents are up in arms over new ownership of its mail system. Items are no longer delivered to the island free of charge. Instead, an annual fee has been instituted. Otherwise, packages and letters are kept at the post office in Anacortes while USPS is locked out of the Decatur mail shed per […]
Feral hogs causing chaos in Sugar Land neighborhood (TX)
Most mornings, residents in Sugar Land’s Lakes of Austin Park awaken to obvious signs they’ve received unwanted overnight visitors. From torn-up lawns and gardens to packs of them found wandering down the streets, herds of feral hogs in recent years have made the quiet neighborhood, a little more than a mile away from H-E-B and […]
Woodridge Condo Owners Forced to Vacate for Months Due to Plumbing Issue (IL)
Some of the condos at Woodridge Country Club were impacted by last summer’s tornado and remain uninhabitable. But other condos suffered little to no damage and residents still live inside them. Read the entire article……………………………….
Keystone’s Decatur homeowners association bans electric vehicles in garage (CO)
Homeowners at the Decatur property in Keystone’s Lakeside Village were alerted last week that electric vehicles are now prohibited from parking or charging in the garage due to an increased “risk of fire.” Read the entire article……………………………….
Weeks After Whittier Place Condo Complex Fire, Residents Unable To Salvage Belongings As Demolition Looms (CO)
On Sunday, about a dozen of the former residents showed up at a park near the complex to discuss the ongoing issues. Richard Light is one of them. “The lack of information creates much more frustration than I think is necessary,” Light said. “For a lot of us, this is our home, we have family […]
Esplanade residents provide free lunch for Lakewood Ranch Medical Center workers (FL)
As time wound down in November on this year’s Esplanade Gives Back campaign, Lifestyle Director Rob Commissar fired off an email to Esplanade Golf and Country Club residents that had one last plea to help with donations to feed the staff at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. Read the entire article……………………………….
CDDs to discuss unpaid fines at homes in The Villages owned by dead people (FL)
Four community development district boards this week will be discussing unpaid deed compliance fines racked up at homes in The Villages owned by dead people. Uncollected fines are becoming a nagging problem at abandoned homes in Community Development Districts 1 through 4. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA management company charges ARC fee (NV)
Q: Our homeowners association never charged to submit an Architectural Review Committee form. New management is on board, now, and with no written notice to homeowners, they are charging a fee. I would think that we should be notified. What’s the ruling on that? Read the entire article……………………………….
President is typically chairperson of board meetings (FL)
Q: Who presides over the board meetings, the property manager, or the president? And who contacts contractors for bids, the property manager, or the board? Finally, can you rent out rooms in an over 55 community? Read the Q&A…………………………………
Electric charging and natural gas fueling options at condominiums (FL)
With the increased interest in electric charged, and now natural gas fueled cars, Chapter 718.113(8) and (9), Florida Statutes was amended effective July 1, 2021 to accommodate unit owners desiring ownership of such alternative vehicles. We have seen demand so far for electric charging stations but not yet for natural gas fueling stations. Read the […]
Waukesha condo building still unfit for human occupancy, residents can return briefly to gather items (WI)
Dozens of people are still unable to return home to the Horizon West condo building, located at 315 N. West Ave., because it is still unfit to occupy. The city could not yet answer many questions about the short-term or long-term future. The president of the construction company that was working on the building said […]
How to convert condos into apartments (IL)
Q: One by one, over the years, I have purchased all 11 of the units in my condominium association. I want to turn the condominium into an apartment building. What do I need to do? Read the Q&A………………………………
HOA Homefront – How should we invest HOA funds? (CA)
Q: HOAs face a financial issue with interest rates so low. My HOA and the vast majority of other HOAs play it safe with CDs and money market accounts for investment. I am opposed to this. Now that we are averaging something well below 1.5%, the risk to HOAs is enormous. Read the entire article……………………………….
Association usually responsible for structural maintenance (FL)
Q: The foundation under my condominium’s sliding glass door has heaved which prevents me from opening the doors. My condominium manager says that I am responsible for taking out the slider door frame and grinding down the foundation cement. Am I responsible? Read the Q&A………………………………..
Residents Complained About Balconies At Evacuated Condo: City (WI)
Residents reported falling debris and worsening balcony conditions at the Waukesha condominium that was abruptly evacuated on Thursday. Read the entire article……………………………….
Polis wants more electric vehicles, but they aren’t welcome everywhere (CO)
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) has signed more than 400 executive orders dealing with COVID-19. His first ever executive order, more than a year before the pandemic, set a goal to get 940,000 EVs on the road in Colorado by 2030. Read the entire article……………………………….
After 2 murders, HOA board member calls on police: ‘We need a lot more’ (CA)
Residents in the Palm Desert Country Club remain shaken after two people were killed in that area just weeks apart. No arrests have been made, and the Sheriff’s Department is saying very little about either case. Read the entire article……………………………….
Waukesha Fire Department orders evacuation of 3 buildings due to condo’s ‘imminent threat of collapse’ (WI)
Dozens of people in Waukesha are displaced after a six-story condo building was evacuated because of concerns it could collapse. Thursday evening the Horizon West Condominium Building located at 315 N. West Ave. was deemed structurally unsound. The city’s news release cited an independent structural engineering report that blamed the compromised conditions of existing structural […]
How residents of Fox Chase subdivision in St. Charles keep their neighborhood beautiful (IL)
It’s not that the city of St. Charles’ public works department can’t keep the median it owns in the Fox Chase subdivision in good shape. However, it is more than a half-mile long along Fox Chase Boulevard from Winners Cup Circle to Dunham Road. That’s a lot of trees and planting beds to maintain. Read […]
The Inside Outside Guys: Homeowner associations (MI)
When America began to settle into the suburban land around cities after WWII, a new series of issues began to arise that no country had previously dealt with. Our Levittown subdivisions consisted of individually owned parcels and buildings, each dependent on the other for health, safety and value preservation. Read the entire article……………………………….
Sticker shock: Special assessments can send condo costs even higher. What buyers should be asking (MA)
The Boston condo world in the early aughts simmered — explosively boiled, some might say — with the drama played out in the media regarding special assessments that left owners with six-figure bills for hefty, overdue maintenance projects. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condominium infrastructure feels weight of market pressures
Condominiums are not only a functional but beautiful solution to the housing need within Houston and Texas’s city centers that serve everyone from the young professional to the retiree. They provide an equity building vehicle for their owners and are some of Houston’s most renowned and iconic architecture. They serve a vital part of the […]
License plate reader use expanding in local neighborhoods leading to privacy concerns (AL)
Police say new camera systems give them the edge alerting them of things like stolen vehicles entering their city, vehicles wanted in Amber Alerts, or even to search for a particular car description. But there are some privacy concerns. Read the entire article……………………………….