Topics

Was the Manager Liable for an Owner’s Stabbing?

Violence is an unfortunate reality, and community associations and their managers need to prepare for the possibility of an owner falling victim and then seeking recompense from them. Preparation doesn’t necessarily require formal security precautions, though. Associations may be able to limit liability for themselves and their managers in their declarations. That’s what happened in…

Security Clauses Preempt Manager Liability for Owner’s Stabbing

The importance of solid governing documents may never become clearer than when an association or its manager is sued. That was certainly the case after a new owner in a condominium complex was brutally attacked when his key fob access failed. The owner sued the manager, and the court’s ruling hinged on language in the…

For the Dogs (and More!): HUD Issues New Guidance on Assistance Animals

Requests for assistance animals continue to dog many associations. How can they balance their obligations to owners with disabilities with the interests of their neighbors? The process is riddled with potential pitfalls. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently released new guidance that can help your clients understand the kind of inquiries…

E-voting: Yay or Nay?

Not every state permits e-voting in community associations, and, even in those that do, many associations were slow to embrace it. But some communities are taking a second look, recognizing the numerous advantages. Your clients that are considering adopting the practice also need to consider the potential downsides, as well as what’s involved in implementing…

Should Your Clients Make the Switch to Electronic Voting?

Many associations struggle to achieve the necessary quorums for electing board members, updating governing documents, and other critical actions — particularly in communities where absentee owners are common. That’s just one reason that more associations are considering a shift to electronic voting (where permitted by state law). Here’s what you need to know if your…

Vehicle Charging Stations: Positives and Negatives

While electric vehicles aren’t seeing a surge in popularity in every part of the country, many community associations are fielding more requests for charging stations than ever. They probably can expect that number to rise over time. “According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, 54 percent of all new car sales will be electric by 2040,”…

Money Matters: Maintaining Your Clients’ Financial Health During — and After — the Coronavirus

The cororonavirus crisis has shaken the foundations of the economy, and savvy community association boards are already thinking about the implications for their financial footing going forward. In particular, many boards can expect to deal with owners struggling to pay their assessments. While compassion certainly is warranted, boards may find their hands more tied than…

Dealing with the Financial Fallout of a Public Health Emergency

As the federal and state governments took unprecedented measures this spring to confront the coronavirus pandemic, the economy largely collapsed. The dramatic surge in job losses that resulted has led many community association boards of directors to rightly worry about the impact on their financial footing. The fallout is likely to continue for months, if…

Call to Order: Meetings in a Public Health Emergency

Meetings, whether of the board or the association membership, are a hallmark of community associations. And, like so many other aspects of association operations, they’re subject to a lot of rules — rules that have many communities scrambling amidst the sweeping coronavirus crisis. Social distancing protocols and prohibitions against gatherings make traditional meetings nearly impossible…

Coronavirus Creates Meeting Mayhem

Community associations of all kinds, regardless where they’re located, are subject to stringent requirements regarding board of directors and annual membership meetings. Strict compliance can pose a challenge for some associations in the best of times, let alone during a public health emergency. Social distancing protocols and prohibitions against gatherings make traditional meetings nearly impossible…