Departments

We recently came across an online article from a reserve study firm implying that the IRS places requirements on HOAs for reserves and that you could be in hot water if you’re not complying. But the language is sort of squishy and perhaps leaning less toward accuracy and a little more toward getting readers to…

Condo owners in Canada have been forced to remove cameras installed on common property that allow them to monitor their auto parked on site. What if an owner wanted to install a camera on your common property to have a bird’s-eye view of their property 24/7? Here’s what to consider. It’s Their Property and Everybody…

In a June webinar from our sister publication, HOAleader.com, we had a ton of listener questions and simply couldn’t get to all of them. So, we tackle one here: “How, when, and can we remove specific architectural controls from the covenants (e.g., type/style of fence, front door, etc.) and include them in the architectural guidance…

A heartbreaking dashcam video shows emergency responders stymied when trying to enter a gated HOA community where a two-year-old child died of drowning. Here, our experts explain what their clients can do to ensure that law enforcement and first responders have immediate access while also ensuring your community’s access isn’t shared beyond what’s necessary. More…

A Hawaii board member says she was taken aback when she was told by her community’s manager that she was overstepping by contacting vendors and trying to fix things in the community herself. Was that out of bounds? Here, our experts weigh in and offer dos and don’ts to ensure you stay within the bounds…

A Virginia HOA is adding some of its own funds to money from government entities, and it’s fundraising, to control algae on a lake it borders. Is that something lakefront HOAs typically handle? Would they have the power to spend owners’ money on such an effort? Here’s what you need to know about the limits…

Recently an HOA president asked: “Does your community have a written policy covering sidewalk safety and inspections? I’m looking for any recognized industry standards, for example an uplift of a half-inch requires grinding or replacement. We’ve been replacing and grinding HOA owned sidewalks for years, but we don’t have a written policy or inspection schedule.…

An HOA board member who has investors who own more than one property in the community has asked if it’s possible to use the group ownership as leverage to enforce rules. Here’s the question: “One of the goals for my community is to have owners of rental homes inspect their properties monthly at a minimum.…

Its original legislative response to the collapse of the Champlain Towers was sudden and burdensome, many of our experts reported. Now, the Florida legislature has passed new provisions to ease the stress. Here’s a brief overview of the changes. Fixing the First Response “Senate Bill 154 contains various amendments in an attempt to clarify the…

If your state allows your condo/HOA to communicate with owners by email, is there ever a time you could require an owner to do that? If not, are there ways you can strongly encourage opting into ecommunications to reduce the admin and postal costs required to send paper communications? That’s a No, People We bet…