Featured Articles

Board recruitment is a challenge many community associations face, and, for some, the problem is only getting worse. Long-standing board members are aging out or simply want to step back, but no one seems willing to fill their shoes. “It’s an especially huge issue in smaller associations, where a group of dedicated people serve for…

From peacocks and pigs to turkeys and skunks, people seem to eat up stories about unusual animal aides. They’re often less amused, though, when their neighbors want community association rules bent for their service animals. A recent case out of Nevada illustrates the potentially steep costs for associations, board members, and management companies of hastily…

Polling shows more people than ever are concerned about climate change — and people have always been concerned about their bottom lines. Whether driven by environmental concerns, financial considerations, or both, owner interest in solar power is on the rise in many communities. And, while neighbors may have aesthetic and other objections, state laws might…

Community associations often prefer, understandably, to take a hands-off approach to disputes between owners. This week we explain why, under a federal regulation issued by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), that approach could backfire big time. Abuse and harassment among owners is on the rise, says Sandra Gottlieb, a founding partner of…

Community associations often prefer, understandably, to take a hands-off approach to disputes between owners. Under a federal regulation issued by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), though, that approach could backfire. Association Liability for Owner-on-Owner Harassment Abuse and harassment among owners is on the rise, says Sandra Gottlieb, a founding partner of California…

The Architectural Review Committee (ARC) has a lot of power in a community association, which can lead to disputes with owners. One such recent case provides a warning of how architectural review slipups might land an association in court. Fortunately, you can take some steps to reduce the odds of this. Good Fences Make Mad…

Many owners dread doing their laundry in the shared laundry room, but community association managers have several alternatives to help ease the drudgery. Here are some steps worth considering. 1. Embrace technology. Technology has spread to the world of laundry, from computerized washers and dryers to Internet-connected machines and notification systems. Laundry services providers increasingly…

Everyone recognizes the critical roles outdoor lighting plays for a community, from improving security and visibility to enabling nighttime activities and enhancing “curb appeal.” So the related expense generally is viewed as a necessary evil. But your clients might find they could reap substantial savings by upgrading to LED, or light-emitting diode, lighting. LED Advantages…

This week, we take a look at the results of survey of almost 650 HOA members, drilling down into the details to learn how much they think their HOAs help, or hinder, them. One of the keys to effective community association management is meeting and beating member expectations — so it sure would help to…

Dear Insider, For almost 20 years, Community Association Management Insider has served readers with news, tips, and tools that help our subscribers run successful communities. Today, I’m very pleased to announce that Community Association Management Insider is now published by Plain-English Media. The most important question: What does this change of ownership mean to readers?…