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It’s not unusual for a community association board to develop rules and regulations for holiday decorations — but do they have that authority? You might be surprised. This week, we discuss a case where the Virginia Supreme Court struck down an HOA’s decorations guidelines because the declarations didn’t give the board authority to impose such…

As the holidays approach, some community association boards and their managers will soon find themselves dealing with owners who draw the ire of their neighbors by going overboard. Before drafting or trying to enforce decoration and lighting restrictions, or any restrictions, you and your boards should confirm that they have the authority to do so.…

This week, we lay out the new rule regarding who qualifies for overtime pay and who doesn’t. The U.S. Department of Labor released the final rule this past September, and it’s poised to take effect on January 1, 2020. With the possibility that currently exempt employees won’t continue to qualify for their exemptions under the…

After a years-long effort to update the federal rules regarding overtime compensation, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued its final rule. The rule, which changes the eligibility standards for so-called white-collar workers, is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2020, so you need to act promptly to ensure your compliance and reduce…

This week, we look at new California legislation that explicitly bars community associations from restricting owners’ displays of religious items on their entry doors and frames, easing tensions for boards that have been put between a rock (observing religious freedoms) and a hard place (complying with governing documents). Several other states have already seen the…

A new California law taking effect Jan. 1, 2020, tackles restrictions on the display of religious items on owners’ entry doors and frames — and it won’t be the first such law in the United States. Other states, including Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Texas, and Rhode Island have similar statutes. These laws might seen unnecessary in…

This week, we highlight three parking issues that cause problems in many community associations — the growing demand for disabled parking, legal restrictions on enforcement, and a new twist on commercial vehicles. We discuss the headaches they create for managers and boards and propose some solutions. By the year 2030, all Baby Boomers will be…

Parking headaches rank high on the list of many community association managers’ ongoing irksome issues. You can reduce the headaches, though, by staying on top of emerging issues and planning how you’ll address them before they become a major problem. 1. Increased Demand for Disabled Parking By the year 2030, all Baby Boomers will be…

This week, we dig into the significant risks smaller community associations shoulder when they leave the handling of financial matters to only one or two insiders and suggest some steps they can take to control those risks. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for under-resourced or overtrusting associations to find themselves the victims of fraud. In April…

In April 2019, an Iowa man pleaded guilty to a scheme to defraud his homeowners association out of almost $125,000, which he used in part to pay the mortgage on his unit. The scheme ran for nearly five years. The man, who served as treasurer, funneled the funds from an association account to another account…