Illinois Condo & HOA News

• Board members, not property managers, must file under transparency act (IL) October 5, 2024
  Q. I have a few questions concerning the federal Corporate Transparency Act.  What if the property manager for our association does not register (with the federal government) as required by law, and the board continues the property manager contract. Is that appropriate? Does the management company need to register each association that they have a contract with or is one filing enough to cover all the association business of the management company?   Read the Q&A………………………………..
• Woman fears foreclosure after carpet dispute with condo association in Prospect Heights September 13, 2024
  Can a condo’s association take your home away over a carpeting dispute?  Chris Kraszynski lives in a condo in Prospect Heights and said her condo association has falsely accused her of removing the wall-to-wall carpeting, putting her housing at risk.  The ABC7 I-Team walked around her apartment and saw the carpeting that she’s being accused of removing firsthand.   Read the article…………………………….
• Detail of year-end fund reports in question (IL) September 12, 2024
  Q. Under the Illinois Common Interest Community Association Act (“CICAA”), regarding the year-end summary for the budget year, does the board of directors need to furnish reserve fund information to the owners? The property manager does the report and the only report that is furnished to owners is the reserve fund balance. No adds/deletes/transfers or any transactions are furnished. Does this type of reserve fund year-end report comply with CICAA.   Read the Q&A………………………………..
• Board members need to comply with transparency act (IL) September 5, 2024
  Q. Our management company just advised our condominium board about the Corporate Transparency Act. They were rather light on details. From what little we were told, the personal information required appears rather intrusive, and may potentially be another source for identity theft, regardless of the supposed level of security. I understand this act is an attempt to reduce/prevent fraud.    Read the Q&A………………………………..
• 2 rescued from South Shore condo during blaze (IL) August 29, 2024
  Firefighters rescued two people from a South Shore building that erupted in flames early Thursday in South Shore.   About 4:40 a.m., firefighters responded to the fourth floor of the Doral South Condominium building,   Read the article…………………………….
• Family of assistant principal fatally shot in Loop high-rise last year demands answers and expands its civil lawsuit (IL) August 27, 2024
  The family of Abnerd Joseph, an assistant principal who was shot and killed inside a residential building in the Loop last year, has filed a civil lawsuit against the building’s homeowners association, the family and their attorneys announced Monday…..The family’s complaint alleges that the building staff at The Legacy at Millennium Park building “freely allowed an armed resident to patrol the hallways of the luxury condo building and act as a vigilante” the night Joseph was killed.   Read the article…………………………….
• Water main break displaces residents of Schaumburg condo building a second time this month (IL) August 23, 2024
  For a second time this month, a break to a private water main displaced residents of a 143-unit condominium building in Schaumburg for an unknown amount of time as repairs are made.   Read the article…………………………….

Illinois News Archives

Illinois Condo & HOA Articles

• Corporate Transparency Act: Impact to Illinois Community Associations
  “Corporate Transparency Act: Impact to Illinois Community Associations” – KSN attorneys Omar Malik and Sabina Arutyunyan discuss the Federal Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) and its impact to Illinois community associations. The CTA is a federal law requiring certain corporations, including most community associations, to provide board member information to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.   Read the article…………………………….
• Annual Meetings Best Practices and Tips for Condo Board Members
  Annual meetings are essential to running a successful condo community. For condo board members, these meetings provide an opportunity to review the past year’s performance, assess financial health, and outline future goals. When conducted properly, annual meetings lead to informed decision-making, greater community involvement, and a more cohesive, collaborative environment.  In this blog, we will walk through best practices and tips for board members to help ensure your board’s annual meeting is both productive and engaging for owners and residents.  ...
• The Effects of Snowmelt on Buildings and Building Materials (IL)
  Chicago winters are notorious for their harsh conditions, with freezing temperatures, heavy snowfall, and frequent freeze-thaw cycles. As snow and ice accumulate on building surfaces, such as driveways, parking garages, roofs, and sidewalks, the snowmelt process introduces significant challenges for building materials like concrete, asphalt, metal, and wood. The extreme weather fluctuations, combined with the use of deicing substances, can cause serious damage to these materials, leading to cracks, structural weaknesses, and costly repairs.    Read the article…………………………….
• Charging Special Assessments: Key Considerations for Condominium Boards (IL)
  Special assessments are often necessary for covering unexpected or large-scale expenses, such as major repairs, improvements, or emergency costs. However, handling these assessments effectively is critical to ensuring fairness and maintaining financial stability for your association. Here are some key considerations for condominium boards when charging special assessments.    Read the article…………………………….
• Understanding Owner Restrictions on Limited Common Elements: Key Legal Guidance for Illinois Community Associations
  In some community associations, a unit owner may wonder whether they can modify a limited common element which the unit owner exclusively uses. An Illinois appellate court has provided an answer to this question. In Claymoor Condominium Association v. Majewska, 2024 IL App (3d) 230171, the court held that a unit owner may not modify any common element, including limited common elements, without the approval of the association’s board. Furthermore, the court’s decision provides other guidance for community associations who ...
• Political Signs in Community Associations: Balancing Free Speech and Bylaws (IL)
  As election day nears, it is common for owners in a community association to begin displaying political signs. For unit owners, the erection of a political sign can be seen as an invocation of their freedom to expression guaranteed under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article I, Section 4 of the Illinois Constitution. In contrast, community associations often have rules restricting certain types of signs. This article explores the interplay between the constitutional concerns and the ability ...
• Illinois Court Rules that Unit Owner Lacked Standing to Bring Construction Defect Claims Against Condo Developer
  Construction defects are a frequent problem in new construction condominiums in Illinois. When the developer’s appointees control the board of directors, they rarely will take action to hold the developer responsible for construction defects. However, after control of the board of directors is transitioned to the owners, the owner controlled board of directors typically investigates potential construction defect claims related to the common elements to hold the developer accountable. If the developer fails to repair common element construction defects, the ...

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

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?