Illinois Condo & HOA News

• Condo Adviser: Condo boards may discuss business outside of meetings only in certain cases (IL) March 23, 2025
  Q. I am a unit owner in a condominium association and have read that Illinois case law prohibits the board of directors from email or text discussions of board business outside of a board meeting because unit owners would not be privy to those discussions. When I raised this issue with my condominium board, the response was that email and text communications are allowed pursuant to the Condominium Act.   Read the Q&A………………………………..
• Trump Tower’s ex-condo association director accuses Trump Inc., building management of financial mismanagement, fraud (IL) March 20, 2025
  The ex-director of the Trump Tower condo board in Chicago accused the owners and managers of the skyscraper of fraud in a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday, alleging they retaliated against him for speaking out about alleged financial malfeasance and had him arrested while he was taking a steam in the tower’s spa.  The complaint, which lists Trump Inc., the building management and the current president of the tower’s condo association as defendants, alleges that management operated the building at the ...
• Upcoming deadline for Illinois condominium associations March 14, 2025
  As previously mentioned in this column, the new Section 18.12 of the Illinois Condominium Property Act (the “Act”) went into effect Jan. 1, 2025. This new law addresses accessible parking for individuals with disabilities within condominium associations.  The primary impact of the new law requires condominium boards to adopt a written policy and procedure to accommodate requests for accessible parking from disabled owners.    Read the article…………………………….
• Peoria is hosting its semi-annual HOA Academy (IL) March 13, 2025
  The city of Peoria will host its semi-annual HOA Academy on Saturday, April 5, from 8 a.m. to noon, in the Development and Community Services Building at City Hall, 9875 N. 85th Ave. This program is designed to educate HOA board members, management teams, and homeowners on best practices for maintaining and governing homeowners associations.    Read the article…………………………….
• Bayles Lake president ‘startled’ by suggestion that subdivision — not county — is responsible for road’s safety (IL) March 11, 2025
  The president of the Bayles Lake Homeowners Association’s board of directors gave a firm, one-word reply — “No” — when asked if he agrees with Iroquois County officials’ suggestion that the private subdivision west of Loda, rather than the county’s highway department, should be responsible for making safety improvements along a dangerous stretch of County Highway 10 where two vehicles have crashed into the lake’s waters in recent years, resulting in one drowning.    Read the article…………………………….
• Transparency act enforcement paused while scope is examined March 8, 2025
  Late last week, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, known as FinCEN, announced yet another change in policy concerning the Corporate Transparency Act. FinCEN stated that it will not issue any fines or penalties or take any other enforcement actions against any companies (which includes not-for-profit condominium, townhouse and homeowner associations) based on any failure to file or update the Beneficial Ownership Information reports pursuant to the CTA by the current deadlines (March 21).      Read ...
• Transparency act enforcement paused while scope is examined March 7, 2025
  Late last week, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, known as FinCEN, announced yet another change in policy concerning the Corporate Transparency Act. FinCEN stated that it will not issue any fines or penalties or take any other enforcement actions against any companies (which includes not-for-profit condominium, townhouse and homeowner associations) based on any failure to file or update the Beneficial Ownership Information reports pursuant to the CTA by the current deadlines (March 21).   Read the ...

Illinois News Archives

Illinois Condo & HOA Articles

• Defining Adequate Reserves in Homeowners and Condominium Associations
  Properly funded reserves are a fundamental aspect of financial health for homeowners associations (HOAs) and condominium associations. Reserve funds ensure communities are able to address major capital expenditures without relying on special assessments or deferred maintenance. The concept of “adequate reserves” is often subject to differing interpretations, and many boards struggle to establish a clear, defensible funding strategy.   Read the article…………………………….
• Tariff Talk: Planning Beyond the Price Hikes: How Reserve Studies Can Shield Your Association from Tariff-Driven Cost Surges
  With tariffs on imported materials like steel, aluminum, and lumber on the rise, construction and repair costs are rapidly increasing throughout the country. For HOAs, co-ops, and community associations, this antagonizes an ever present challenge: how can you budget effectively when prices are anything but predictable? At Building Reserves, we understand the key lies in flexible, progress-driven planning. A professionally conducted reserve study offers a strategic framework that adapts to economic instability and guides your board in confidently making informed ...
• BrainyBoard
  Brainy Board is a streaming service and educational resource for community association board members. Watch the webinars……………………….
• The Rise in Judicial Sale Surplus Cases and the Role of Illinois Condominium and Homeowners Associations
  In recent years, there has been a notable increase in foreclosure sales resulting in surplus funds due to rising property values. This trend presents opportunities and challenges for Illinois condominium and homeowners associations (HOAs) seeking to recover unpaid assessments and other charges.   Read the article…………………………….
• Enforcing HOA Rules in Illinois: Are Unrecorded Regulations Valid?
  In community associations, there is often a tension between a property owner’s desire to keep and maintain their lot in the manner that they see fit and the community’s desire, acting through a community association, to preserve a common set of community standards and expectations. In 2019, the Illinois Court of Appeals provided significant guidance to communities in Illinois in the unpublished decision Fritz v Lake Carroll Property Owners Association, Inc., 2019 IL App (2d) 180329-U, 2019 WL 647074 (Feb ...
• After the Honeymoon: What I Wish I’d Known When Buying into a Condominium Association
  At first, buying a condo can feel like a dream come true, filled with excitement, pride, and new beginnings. However, much like a marriage, that initial sparkle fades as the realities of shared living set in. The article highlights the importance of staying actively involved in your condo association, especially once the “honeymoon phase” ends.   Read the article…………………………….
• When Boards Go Silent: What to Do When Your Association Becomes ‘Headless’ (IL)
  What happens when your condo or HOA board stops functioning—when board members resign, stop responding, or disappear altogether?  This situation, sometimes referred to as a “headless association,” can leave communities in limbo—without leadership, financial oversight, or the authority to make essential decisions. The recent article from CooperatorNews sheds light on this increasingly common issue, and how communities can begin to take action.   Read the article…………………………….

Illinois Article Archives

Illinois Laws

• Common Interest Community Association Act
• Condominium and Common Interest Community Ombudsperson Act

Illinois Condominium & Common Interest Community Ombudsperson

Website

Condominium Unit Owners Rights and Responsibilities Handbook

Rights and Responsibilities of Association Board Members

Assistance Animal Integrity Act

Illinois Condo & HOA Resources

Community Associations Institute – Illinois Chapter

ASCO (Association of Sheridan Condo/Coop Owners, Chicago): http://www.ASCOsheridanroad.org

The Law Offices of Kovitz, Shifrin, Nesbit has published a number of booklets:

Condo & Homeowner Association Board Member Handbook

This excellent resource for Board members discusses many of the issues facing Association Boards, including developer control and turnover, adopting rules and regulations, keeping minutes, and committees.

A Summary of Illinois Association Laws

 and also have published a large number of articles, booklets, laws and ordinances

Condo Law Watch

Dickler, Kahn, Slowikowski & Zavell, Ltd. have a number of articles and a newsletter

What are the Top Industry Organizations Dedicated to Condo/Townhome/HOA
Community Association Living?