Much like being a parent who raises a child, only to have the heartbreak of dropping that child off at college, there comes a time when a declarant, after building the units; getting the grounds landscaped in the spring and summer and plowed in the winter; paving the roads; and opening the clubhouse; says goodbye […]
Cops called 175 times on Beaverton ‘zombie condo’ squatters (OR)
For nearly 5 years Alex Dvir has lived in a condo complex in a quaint area in southwest Beaverton, near a middle school and a few parks. But over the past 2 years he and his fellow condo owners have had to call authorities on squatters 175 times. Read the entire article……………………………….
Rock Springs Ridge homeowners approve HOA-proposed sale of gopher tortoise conservation area (FL)
Homeowners in Rock Springs Ridge voted 571-123 in support of a proposal by its Homeowners Association to sell a 51-acre parcel of land on Kelly Park Road owned by the HOA and labaled as a “gopher tortoise conservation area” in multiple documents and in signage around the property. Read the entire article……………………………….
Atlanta sued over allegedly ‘illegal taxes’ posing as waste fees (GA)
Atlanta is facing litigation from condominium owners seeking relief from the city’s years-old annual garbage fees. In 2019, the city’s annual frontage fees for trash pick up and street sweeping increased to a range of $500 to $12,000 per property for commercial or multi-family developments, according to the complaint filed in Fulton Superior Court in […]
Ocean Pines board to consider removing director Tom Janasek at special meeting (MD)
Ocean Pines director Tom Janasek is the target of a motion to remove him from the board for a second time in a year. According to a news release from Ocean Pines Association, the agenda of an Oct. 11 meeting of the Board of Directors lists a motion by Director Colette Horn to remove Janasek […]
Diamond Bar: Residents ordered to vacate after 150 condos at complex are red- or yellow-tagge (CA)
Residents at this Diamond Bar complex have been ordered to leave their homes after all 150 condos were red- or yellow-tagged. “They posted that we have to vacate by Oct. 18,” one resident who doesn’t want to be identified said. “As of now we don’t know anything. I’m kind of blind because it just happened […]
3 floors of Bal Harbour condo evacuated amid chemical concern (FL)
Three floors of a Bal Harbour high-rise condominium building were evacuated Monday afternoon after police saw suspected chemicals in a unit where a tenant had recently been evicted. Read the entire article……………………………….
I-Team: Condo complex leaking raw sewage; tenants worry of potential collapse (NV)
A condo complex a block off the Las Vegas Strip is facing plumbing and structural problems, largely in part to raw sewage leaking up from the ground. The Desert Inn Villas at 356 E. Desert Inn Road near Paradise Road are six, three-story buildings connected with breezeways. The complex was built in 1963, records showed. […]
Stafford homeowner fights pond drainage, fearing fish will ‘die in place’ (VA)
Thousands of fish will suffocate and die if the Stafford County pond they live in is drained this week, says a Stillwater Estates homeowner fighting to halt a developer’s plan. Jason and Olya Salley moved from Prince William County to the small Stafford subdivision in July, but Sona Homes, which built their house, is ready to […]
Touchmark residents, staff raise more than $35,000 for Alzheimer’s Association (OR)
For individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers, each day presents challenges that require compassion to overcome. In honor and support of their experiences, The Alzheimer’s Association promotes an annual fundraising season that culminates with two events, The Longest Day on the summer solstice and the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s toward the end of […]
Club West HOA suggests it holds course’s land rights (AZ)
The Foothills Club West Association board hit back hard at The Edge’s claim that it has been holding up a resolution of the golf course suit and contended it has not lost the declarant rights to the course. In a filing last week, the HOA board said, “All of the allegations made by The Edge […]
KPRC 2 Investigates cluster mailbox mess: No mail delivery for months in one neighborhood (TX)
Cluster mailboxes are damaged through normal wear and tear or if they’re vandalized. Neighbors in some communities say the United States Postal Service (USPS) previously repaired or replaced them. Now it seems USPS is passing that burden on to customers, but with little direction. Some might say, it’s a real cluster. Read the entire […]
A water damaged condo, a six-month insurance wait (MA)
Last December, Nicky Enriquez began noticing beads of moisture on the ceiling and walls of her condo in Chelsea, which she suspected was somehow connected to the new floor recently installed upstairs by a contractor. Read the entire article……………………………….
Huge water problem soaks Ewa community (HI)
Ewa Beach homeowners Charlotte and Yuka Momosea and their neighbors try not to waste water. Yet the community in which they live hasn’t been able to account for over 100 million gallons of the precious resource in the last year. Read the entire article……………………………….
State law does include HOA election results deadline (NV)
Q: I am curious as to why Nevada Revised Statute, Chapter 116, doesn’t require board election results to be posted within 15 days of the election. Our association just had a board election on Aug. 5, and the 68 owners — 47 of whom voted — never received the results. I was told by the […]
Residents at Parkchester condominium frustrated over garbage pileup from over a year (NY)
Last year, News 12 reported the story of tenants at a Parkchester South Condominium who had to climb over mountains of trash every time they left their homes. A year later, residents say garbage is still piling up. They say the outside of their homes still looks like a dump, due to to piles of […]
Unit owners allowed to do some business at home (IL)
Q: The covenants for our association prohibit using units for a business purpose. One of the owners is a sales person who represents several different lines of clothing for different companies. He has created a corporation for this purpose and uses his unit as the registered office for the corporation. Is using the unit as […]
HOA Homefront: 6 reasons to stay in your HOA lane (CA)
Last week’s column reviewed the roles and boundaries of each HOA team member. While sometimes it can seem frustrating for volunteer leaders to adhere to their role as directors, there are at least six reasons to do so. Read the entire article……………………………….
Palm Beach County, West Boynton communities reach compromise to avoid hefty construction fees (FL)
“It was a huge relief this compromise was achieved,” said Beth Rappaport, president of Coalition of West Boynton Residential Association. “It really did resolve a lot of problems for the HOAs.” Read the entire article……………………………….
Two South Ogden condos heavily damaged in overnight fire (UT)
Two families have been displaced after a fire tore through two condos in South Ogden late Saturday night, injuring two firefighters. The condos in the neighborhood near 800 East and 5500 South are close together, which put pressure on firefighters to keep the flames from spreading to more homes. Read the entire article……………………………….
Ruling clears way for DeBordieu to start groin project (SC)
A beach renourishment project will begin at DeBordieu this fall with construction of three rock and concrete groins to follow before spring. A state Administrative Law Court judge this week rejected a request from an environmental group to halt the work while it appeals the permits. Read the entire article……………………………….
Downtown Sarasota condo owners grapple with maintenance challenges (FL)
The name of an upcoming event hosted by a downtown resident group — “Condominiums in Crisis” — paints a troubling image of the state of aging buildings along the water and in the heart of the city. Read the entire article……………………………….
Dubai developer’s $120M contract for Surfside site approved, appraisal for unit owners totals $96M
A judge approved the Dubai-based developer’s $120 million contract to purchase the site of the Surfside condo collapse, while a new appraisal valuing the units at about $95.6 million will help determine the future distribution of funds. Read the entire article……………………………….
Apopka Police Dept. and Emerson Park HOA partner to host National Night Out in October (FL)
National Night Out (NNO) is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. This time together enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Read the entire article……………………………….
Crews say condos are safe after fire line break forms hole in Iona (FL)
Hundreds of people living inside a condo complex are breathing easy after crews avoided a structural disaster. Luckily, a gaping hole that opened up near the building after a fire line break was filled. Read the entire article……………………………….
Wiggins Lake property owners help Gladwin County veterans (MI)
The Wiggins Lake POA is giving the Gladwin County Veterans Relief Fund $5,000 on Monday, to help local veterans, particularly ones who are down on their luck. Read the entire article……………………………….
Ask a real estate pro: Can condo owners refuse to pay special assessment? (FL)
Q: Despite the struggling economy, our condo passed a significant special assessment to repair the roof. Many residents cannot afford to pay this. What would happen if a couple of dozen of us refused to pay? Read the Q&A………………………………….
Unauthorized flagpole could cause problems (MI)
Q: A co-owner in my condominium development erected a flagpole on a common element without permission of the board. There is an American flag flying on it along with a college flag. Read the Q&A………………………………….
Some of Las Vegas’ biggest homeowner associations lead efforts to conserve water (NV)
Las Vegas is in the midst of a triple whammy of water woes: Historic drought, looming federal restrictions and climate change. The need to conserve is tremendous and that means changing our habits. Read the entire article……………………………….
Sinkhole opens up between condo buildings in Iona, prompts evacuations (FL)
A car has fallen into a sinkhole and prompted the evacuation of two buildings in the Iona area of South Fort Myers. The sinkhole in a condo building driveway near Portside Drive in Harbour Isle Yacht & Racquet Club. Read the entire article……………………………….
Loren Cove rewards first responders (FL)
Residents of Loren Cove in Viera wanted to show their appreciation for first responders. The Loren Cove Homeowners Association recently provided several boxes of snacks and drinks for Brevard Fire Rescue Station 47 on Murrell Road in Viera. Read the entire article……………………………….
I Team: Condo inspection plans cause friction between residents and boards (FL)
Since the Surfside condo collapse in June, the CBS12 News I Team has been following efforts to protect people living in high-rises and how strict new inspections- like those now on the books in Boca Raton – could change life in South Florida condo towers. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condo questions: Board meetings are only held via Zoom. Can they do this? (FL)
Q: My husband and I do not have access to Zoom or other online meeting platforms. Our condo board started holding all of the board meetings on Zoom when the COVID-19 pandemic was on the rise. Read the Q&A…………………………………
Stormwater management starts at home
Stormwater runoff can affect the quantity and quality of water that must be handled somewhere downstream. Excess runoff can contribute to flooding. Contaminated runoff can damage water, making it unfit for human consumption and wildlife habitat. Stormwater runoff is the rain and melting snow that flows off streets, rooftops, lawns, parking lots, open fields, and […]
Changing community services does not require unanimous approval (FL)
Q: I live in a gated community. We have guards on duty 24 hours a day. Presently some owners are trying to do away with the guards. I remember that years ago some residents tried to do the same thing and were not able to accomplish it. I do not recall the particular reason why […]
Tenant allows homeless people to live in storage shed (NV)
Q: (We have a homeowner who has) leased the property to a tenant. The tenant in turn permitted a group of homeless people to reside in the storage shed on the property. The homeowners association regards the homeless as trespassers (signs are prominently displayed.) Appeals to both the owner and tenant have fallen on deaf […]
Ask the HOA Expert: Limited Common Elements, Quorum Rules
Question: Does the board have the right to grant exclusive use of common areas to one or a few members? Several of our owners have requested to expand the size of their decks or patios. Read the Q&A………………………………..
Property Owners Association donates to food banks (MN)
Normally the race proceeds are allocated for protecting and improving walleye/fish habitat. As was done in 2020, the WAPOA Board voted once again to donate the 2021 proceeds to area food shelves. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condo Q&A (FL)
Q: Our condo association sent out notice of a board meeting where the new budget for the upcoming year will be passed by the board, and it had the proposed budget attached to it. The proposed budget looks like it’s a significant increase in the amount of assessments. Isn’t that something that the unit owners […]
HOA Homefront: Boundary basics for HOA team members (CA)
For many years, advising associations was at times very stressful, as boards would sometimes disregard my best advice for them. However, a defining moment in my HOA law career came when I realized my role is to tell the board the truth and provide to them my best advice, but compelling the board to follow […]
Frustration emerges as Club West lawsuit wears on (AZ)
As frustration mounts over the protracted legal battle between the Club West Conservancy and the Foothills Club West Association board, a new filing in the case suggests no end to the 18-month-old case is in sight. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront: Are term limits illegal at an HOA? (CA)
Q: With the new election law (effective 1/1/20) removing term limits for board members, does this mean the HOA no longer has to hold annual elections or send out candidate request forms? My association has not held an election in 2 years, no candidate forms are sent out. The current board selects whomever they want […]
Billionaire Row Condo Board Sues Developers Over 1,500 Building Defects (NY)
The condo board at one of New York’s tallest and toniest towers sued the building’s developers, claiming design flaws are to blame for flooding, stuck elevators and “horrible and obtrusive noise and vibration.” Read the entire article……………………………….
Camas residents urge city, HOA to settle lawsuit, restore area near Lacamas Lake (WA)
The city and state charged the Lacamas Shores Homeowners Association (HOA) with maintaining the biofilter and preventing the housing development from negatively impacting the water quality of the nearby Lacamas Lake. Read the entire article……………………………….
Prince William County family suing condo over dangerous living conditions (VA)
A Prince William County family feels stuck in what they’re calling unacceptable and unsafe living conditions. “It is not safe and it is not healthy,” said Janet DiTanna, Homeowner, Sherbrooke Condominium Unit. The family says filing a lawsuit was a last resort, but the only way to get the attention of their Homeowner’s Association […]
What Boca Country Club Residents Are Worried About & Delray Looks at Seawalls (FL)
A week from Friday, the formerly private Boca Country Club becomes the public Boca Raton Golf and Racquet Club. Traffic remains the main issue between the city and residents of the nearly 1,000 homes that border the golf course, and there remains no resolution that pleases the residents. Read the entire article……………………………….
East Ascension drainage approves discussions with Prairieville subdivision association (LA)
The East Ascension Drainage Board approved of Ascension Parish President Clint Cointment entering discussions with a Prairieville homeowners’ association regarding work on a private retention pond. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condo Board Moves to Comply With Climate Mobilization Act (NY)
If you want to see how co-op and condo boards will comply with the looming limits on building carbon emissions under the Climate Mobilization Act, take a trip to the condominium tower at 400 Central Park West. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condo Won’t Give 100 Year Old Resident Decal to Enter Complex (FL)
She is 100 years old, and she’s surprised that her condo association won’t give her a decal to get into the complex. It’s why she turned to Help Me Howard with Patrick Fraser. Read the entire article……………………………….