A microwave started a fire at a condominium building in Harford County, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. A neighbor of the occupant heard a smoke alarm and later discovered the occupant inside her apartment with heavy smoke, fire officials said. Another neighbor assisted her out of the apartment. Read the article…………………………….
Prepping for a nightmare scenario: What happens if there’s a condo collapse in Volusia County? (FL)
This week, some are training on how to respond to what would be a true nightmare: A condo collapse in Daytona Beach Shores. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is hosting the training at the county’s Emergency Operations Center at 3825 Tiger Bay Road Daytona Beach. Volusia County and chose the scenario. The county’s coastline is […]
‘Do something’: Condo owner frustrated other perceived inaction by property management company (TX)
rudy Allen has buyers’ remorse after dealing with what she describes as ‘issue after issue.’ The trombone player sold her home in 2020 and moved to the Sunridge Villas condominium on Westpark Drive in Southwest Houston. “It’s been very far from an oasis. I just stay in my house,” Allen said. “I regret [the] purchase […]
5 HOA Committees All Utah Communities Should Have
Living in a homeowners association can be complicated. Many homeowners are confused about the general operational setup of their neighborhood. Why do the assessments seem to keep going up? What does my money even pay for? Who actually calls the shots? Read the article…………………………….
Navigating Dispute Settlements and Business Decisions: A Guide for Community Associations
In the complex realm of managing condominium and homeowner associations, disputes with contractors and other critical business decisions can unexpectedly arise. Successful navigation through these challenges requires proactive measures, clear communication, and careful decision-making. In this guide, we explore how to handle dispute settlements, important business choices, and the significance of release agreements for associations. […]
Surfside condo collapse investigators provide key insights into possible causes of the disaster. Here are the top takeaways (FL)
Federal investigators on Thursday shared updates on their probe into the cause of the catastrophic 2021 condominium collapse in Surfside, Florida, providing key insights into the factors that may have led to the deaths of 98 people under a mountain of rubble. Investigators have identified hundreds of possible points of failure in the building, eventually […]
Sun City HOA needs your support
Moving to Sun City provided a super opportunity to meet and associate with many other like-minded people. Cultivating these relationships, making new friends and gathering with neighbors, is fulfilling for lots and lots of Sun City citizens. These relationships/associations are a main reason for spending a portion of our lives here. Read the article…………………………….
Condo Smarts: CRA filing for bare trust no longer mandatory for strata (BC)
Q: Our management company is charging us $800 for each of our trust accounts to file the new tax returns required for bare trusts. If a strata corporation is self managed or has a management company, is a strata corporation operating account, contingency or special levy a bare trust? Are we required to file this […]
‘My serenity is being invaded upon’: Neighbors consider suing over code violations (FL)
In a deed-restricted neighborhood in Hillsborough County, some residents say they’re out of options to get neighbors to follow county code and deed restrictions. In Hillsborough County, short-term rentals are allowed but must be rented out for at least seven days. One neighborhood in the county says it’s easy enough to find rental after rental […]
How to Assess the Financial Stability of an HOA
Understanding a Homeowner Association’s (HOA) financial stability is crucial for maintaining property values and ensuring residents’ high quality of life. Key examination elements include reserve funds, special assessments and financial planning. Read the article…………………………….
New law mandates condo inspections for older buildings (FL)
Charlotte County sent notices to owners of 168 condominiums built decades ago that are at least three stories high, informing them the structures must undergo comprehensive inspections under a new state law. Charlotte County Building Official Shawn McNulty explained what the new law means and how it came about during the Board of County Commissioners […]
Maximizing Insurance Savings: A guide to maintenance, replacement, and risk mitigation in community associations
For community associations, managing insurance costs can be a challenging but crucial task. Focusing on maintenance, replacement, and risk mitigation can significantly impact insurance premiums especially when dealing with separate carriers for property and general liability insurance. Below, we explore strategies for community associations to proactively maintain and replace key elements, ultimately reducing the risk […]
HB22-1137: Continuing Issues with Delinquencies and Covenant Enforcement (CO)
When this article publishes, we will be about 18 months out from when HB22-1137 took effect on August 9, 2022 and made significant changes to portions of the Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act (CCIOA). The law requires associations, management companies, and attorneys to handle delinquencies and covenant enforcement in very specific ways. It required changes […]
Roof Preventative Maintenance for Multi-Family Communities
A roofing Preventative Maintenance Agreement (PMA) is a key component in property up-keep. This article will cover the basics of roof preventive maintenance: what it is, why it’s important, and what to look for with different roofing systems. To start off, roof preventive maintenance is scheduled maintenance and cleaning designed to help maintain the overall […]
Strategic Budgeting for Deferred Maintenance: A Roadmap for Long-Term Success
Analyzing the financial health of a homeowners association is a crucial task to ensure its ability to maintain and enhance the community and common areas. For a variety of reasons, sometimes the association will be faced with deferred maintenance. Creating a funding plan to address maintenance helps establish a sustainable financial foundation. Completing an assessment […]
When Pipes Fail & Preventative Maintenance
When considering your piping systems, there are two main systems in question: Domestic Water Systems and Drain, Waste and Vent (DWV) Systems. Below are some signs of aging to look out for with each system, and how to best maintain them. In the event that systems fail, repiping is the primary option that can prove […]
When Should You Contact an Engineer?
When it comes to the reconstruction and restoration of HOA communities, the civil and structural engineers who make up a part of this niche market are accustomed to working behind the scenes. After all, there’s nothing high-profile and flashy about designing repair plans, pulling permits, or writing up engineering reports about potential issues within a […]
Bahamas: Old Fort Bay developer secures win in legal battle with homeowners’ association, celebrates hard-fought victory
The developer, The Old Fort Bay Company Limited, represented by attorney Gail Lockhart Charles KC, noted in a statement that the Court of Appeal in its ruling had categorically rejected the Association’s attempt to claim ownership of the Old Fort Bay Club, Pineapple Grove, the beach reserve, and other areas of land within the Old […]
HOA sues residents for operating in-home businesses (ID)
In December, Two Rivers Subdivision HOA filed a complaint with Ada County’s Fourth District Court against Yuriy Buchinskiy and his wife Valentina Buchinskiy aiming to force them to stop operating their small businesses out of their home in the upscale subdivision. Read the article…………………………….
Supplemental Claims Don’t Need to Include Damage Estimates, Fed Appeals Court Says (FL)
A federal appeals court has, at least for now, put an end to lingering questions about some property insurance claims litigation: The insured does not need to submit a competing damage estimate when filing a supplemental claim if the policy does not require it. Read the article…………………………….
Condo roofs are becoming nesting sites for threatened shorebirds. Here’s why. (FL)
As Florida’s wild natural beaches have become more and more scarce, beachside buildings with gravel rooftops have multiplied by the thousands. Shorebirds that nest in the sand have had to adapt. Several species, including black skimmers, least terns, roseate terns and American oystercatchers, have taken to nesting on the plentiful gravel rooftops of buildings near […]
Fire in Chester condo complex destroys several units (NY)
A fire in Chester Tuesday destroyed several units inside a condominium complex. Chester Fire Department Chief Thomas Marchiano says the flames broke out in the afternoon at the Whispering Hills condominium complex inside a garage and spread to the apartments above. Read the article…………………………….
Homeowners urge lawmakers to take action on bill addressing defective home construction (CO)
When your home is built poorly, it can be hard to hold builders accountable, or even get repairs done. A bill moving through the Colorado legislature would make it easier for homeowners to get the fixes they need. “It’s only about having the repairs done properly,” said Janine Musser, a Colorado homeowner. Read the […]
Fire in Chester condo complex destroys several units (CT)
A fire in Chester Tuesday destroyed several units inside a condominium complex. Chester Fire Department Chief Thomas Marchiano says the flames broke out in the afternoon at the Whispering Hills condominium complex inside a garage and spread to the apartments above. Read the article…………………………….
Z&L Properties sues over sale of “$1M” San Jose condos for $32K (CA)
Z&L Properties has sued bidders who violated a court restraining order to buy 10 condominiums auctioned at cut-rate prices in Downtown San Jose. The China-based developer filed the lawsuit against two buyers as well as San Diego-based Nationwide Reconveyance, a trustee for a homeowners association at a 320-unit condo tower Read the article…………………………….
Developers pay $102 million for Naples waterfront condo community (FL)
A pair of Florida developers have bought a 2.5-acre beachfront property near the Naples Beach Club and plan to build a luxury condominium tower on the site. BH Group and the Kolter Group, both from South Florida, paid $102.6 million for the property — which has 200 feet of beach frontage Read the article…………………………….
Ponte Vedra condo residents claim HOA is targeting them with thousands in legal fees (FL)
A select group of people living at the Belleza at Ponte Vedra Condominium complex reached out to Action News Jax questioning the HOA’s authority to charge them thousands in legal fees. Five residents living at Belleza tell Action News Jax the fees have been piling on for well over a year, claiming it all dates […]
EV fast-charging comes to condos and apartments
Right now, the electric vehicle ownership experience is optimized for the owner who lives in a single-family home. A level 2 home AC charger costs a few hundred dollars, and with a garage or carport, an EV that gets plugged in each night is an EV that starts each day with a 100 percent charged […]
Failure of manway cover determined cause of Highland flood, not pipe burst (UT)
A neighborhood in Highland was flooded by what was initially believed to be a pipe burst, but Provo River Water Users Association said it was actually due to a mechanical failure of a manway cover. The flooding happened Saturday afternoon near the intersection of 6400 West and 10400 North.Tens of thousands of gallons of water […]
BC Property Owners Group Seeking Judicial Review Of Short-Term Rental Legislation
A big property owners group in British Columbia has officially filed suit against both the Province of British Columbia and the City of Victoria over the new short-term rentals legislation that’s set to come into effect on May 1. Read the article…………………………….
Family fighting keep chickens as pets in Waxhaw neighborhood (NC)
A Union County family that was fined for keeping chickens as pets has scored a big win. The family was originally located in a Waxhaw neighborhood. However, neighborhood rules said they couldn’t own poultry, but they could have household pets as long as you don’t make money off of them. Read the article…………………………….
Do E-mail Exchanges Constitute A Meeting Of The Board? (CA)
In LNSU#1, LLC v. Alta Del Mar Coastal Collection Community Association,94 Cal. App. 5th 1050, 312 Cal. Rptr. 3d 707 (2023), two homeowners in a common interest development argued that their homeowners’ association violated state law governing open meetings when certain directors discussed items of association business by e-mails without giving all association members notice […]
Boca Raton Building Recertification Ordinance: A Comprehensive Guide for Building Managers and Condominium Governing Boards (FL)
Fresh off our recent article highlighting Boynton Beach’s new building recertification requirements, we highlight Boca Raton’s updated Building Recertification program. This article covers everything you need to know about Boca Raton’s Building Recertification Program (Ordinance 5589) and the significant changes it makes to the way building recertification is conducted. It ultimately focuses on what it […]
The Finer Points of Fining Condominium Owners
Condo association rules provide a behavioral road map for owners, explaining what they are allowed and not allowed to do. But creating effective rules is only half the challenge for boards; enforcing the rules is the other arguably more challenging half of this equation. When it comes to enforcement, boards don’t have many tools. They […]
Replacing Board Members
Problem: One member of our seven-member board has resigned, leaving us with only six members. The association’s documents require a seven-member board, but the next election, at which a new board member might be elected, is several months away and there don’t appear to be any owners willing to fill the vacant position. Read the […]
Understanding Community Association Security Measures and Liabilities
A recent article from the Community Associations Institute in the organization’s excellent Ungated blog focused on important security and liability issues for associations. It discussed how communities can be exposed to legal liabilities for negligent security and crimes occurring on association property. Read the article…………………………….
Upholding Decorum: Navigating Conduct at Association Board Meetings
Association board meetings are formal meetings where the board of directors conducts business. However, these gatherings can sometimes become arenas for discord, where conflicts escalate and civility wanes. Upholding decorum at association board meetings is paramount to fostering an environment of respect, collaboration, and effective decision-making. Read the article…………………………….
Co-Op Board’s Carpet Rule Poses Dilemma for Allergy Sufferers (NY)
Tax Day is upon us once again, a timely reminder that for co-op and condo boards there are three eternal verities: death, taxes and noise complaints. This was brought home by a woman with allergies so severe that she had to remove the carpets from her apartment years ago. In an effort to downsize, she […]
More homeowners forced into California Fair Plan coverage
Most people never hear about the California FAIR Plan until their homeowner’s insurance gets canceled. “It’s not a normal home insurance policy,” said Amy Bach, executive director of the nonprofit United Policyholders. “It only covers fire, lightning, internal explosion. It doesn’t cover water damage, leaks, your toilet overflows.” Read the article…………………………….
Condo advisor lays out how Florida’s market got so dire
In the wake of a 2021 Florida law, condo owners are facing a variety of new requirements and potentially massive fees. Following the collapse of Champlain Tower in Surfside, the legislature passed a statute requiring, among other things, that buildings over 30 years old (20 years on the coasts) be inspected and collect reserve capital […]
No injuries after 2-alarm condo blaze in Maple Leaf Square area (ON)
Toronto firefighters and police officers said the blaze was believed to have started at about 12:23 p.m. on a balcony at the residential building near the York St.-Bremner Blvd. area and Maple Leaf Square. Read the article…………………………….
Virginia ranks high nationally in HOA real estate landscape
Virginia’s residential landscape boasts the 12th spot nationally with the highest number of homes belonging to Homeowner Associations (HOAs). Based on data from the Foundation for Community Association Research from December 2021, more than 2 million Virginia residents live in over 9,000 HOA communities across the Commonwealth. Read the article…………………………….
Litigant withdraws PPP fraud suit against condo associations, clubs (CO)
A Florida man is standing down on his litigation that accused dozens of Colorado condominium and homeowners associations of fraudulently collecting federal pandemic money, according to recent court filings. Plaintiff Wade Riner on April 8 withdrew his civil complaint, without prejudice, which means he reserved the right to refile the lawsuit. Read the article…………………………….
Resident calls on the community for help, City and HOA said their hands are tied (OK)
An Owasso resident calls on the community to help fix a broken park bridge after the city and neighborhood HOA said their hands are tied. The bridge in the Three Lakes neighborhood is completely falling apart. With the unkept conditions, it’s a huge liability, and danger to the kids who play or those who want […]
Nightmare Board Meetings (MI)
We have all been there at some point – a nightmare board meeting. This is the meeting that never seems to end. It is unorganized and chaotic. A nightmare meeting is the meeting where Ms. Smith, the longtime resident, shows up with a laundry list of complaints and completely derails the board’s meeting agenda. It […]
Finally, Education is Required for Board Members (FL)
I think everyone reading this knows how long and how hard I have fought for mandatory education for Board members. I always thought it was disgraceful to allow someone to get certified by signing a dumb form that says I read my governing documents and promise to enforce them. Finally, we have a change in […]
Australia: Insurances, Commissions and Kickbacks in our Strata & Community Title Schemes
The fact that in the 2015 strata reforms it was felt necessary to include a new provision requiring strata managing agents to disclose commissions and training and to prohibit the receipt of gifts over $60.00 (see sections 57(2) & 60 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (“SSMA”)) shows that this has been an ongoing […]
No injuries after blaze at downtown condo (ON)
According to officials, the fire spread to a second balcony, and shattered glass was spotted falling to the ground below. The situation was quickly brought under control and the flames were extinguished Read the article…………………………….
Deciphering Your HOA’s Financial Statements
Do you ever feel lost deciphering your HOA’s financial statements? You’re not alone! This guide will equip you with the insight to confidently understand your HOA’s financial health and become an active participant in your community. Read the article…………………………….
Homeowner says it’s time to ditch Zoom meetings (NV)
Q: It’s been four years since COVID, and quite frankly, I’m tired of hearing excuses from lazy people who refuse to convene as normal. And while I understand the convenience of Zoom meetings, they are not without fault and major issues. For one thing, there will always be “technical” difficulties. It’s the internet, after all. […]