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Tread Carefully When Infection Comes to the Community
There’s nothing like a public health crisis created by highly contagious virus to get people riled up. And when people live in close communities, they may be especially vulnerable — to both illness and alarm. The calls about the coronavirus started coming earlier and earlier, says Sandra Gottlieb, a founding partner of California homeowner association…
Someone is Sick: Now What?
The calls related to the coronavirus started coming earlier and earlier, says Sandra Gottlieb, a founding partner of California homeowner association law firm SwedelsonGottlieb. “As the death counts climbed in the United States, people were panicking. It was ratcheting up every single day, and I heard the terror.” In the midst of a public health…
Smart Common Area Management in a Time of Contagion
As the coronavirus pandemic heated up this spring, community association managers dealt with an onslaught of calls from clients. People were feeling out of control and ramping up their expectations for protective measures from their associations. One particular area of focus? The risk of contagion in common areas. Managers and boards of directors owe a…
Protecting Common Areas from Contagion
As the coronavirus proliferated across the globe, community association managers have been reminded of the critical role they can play in containing the spread of germs. Whether during the COVID-19 crisis or future public health emergencies, their clients need help making some tough choices, particularly when it comes to managing the common areas in their…
“We Don’t Want Any”: Rules and Restrictions for Nonresidents in a Public Health Emergency
In early April 2020, a Manhattan co-op prohibited the brother of one of the building’s owners from staying in his unit. According to the New York Times, the brother, a physician, had traveled to the city from rural New Hampshire to volunteer his services in the battle against the coronavirus. This incident may have struck…
Control the Flow: How to Regulate Outsiders During a Health Crisis
In early April 2020, a Manhattan co-op prohibited the brother of one of the building’s owners from staying in his unit. According to the New York Times, the brother, a physician, had traveled to the city from rural New Hampshire to volunteer his services in the battle against the coronavirus. This incident may have struck…
Walk on the Wild Side: Managing Owner-and-Wildlife Interactions
Homeowners with an affinity for animals often pose problems for community associations and their managers. But it’s one thing when you’re dealing with domesticated pets — it’s another when the owners want to interact with area wildlife. As the president of a Florida gated golf community recently told the Panama City News Herald, “[i]f someone…
Wildlife: A Draw for Owners — but Also a Risk
Proximity to wildlife is a draw for some community associations, with owners treasuring the opportunity to live close to nature. But that nearness can lead to destruction and the risk of bodily harm. As the president of a Florida gated golf community recently told the Panama City News Herald, “[i]f someone was to get hurt…
How to Reduce Your “Problem Clients”
When community association managers get together, it doesn’t take much time before the conversation turns to their problem clients. Almost everyone has stories about the difficult client who tries their patience and professionalism. For many managers, these clients have become more common and less restrained. Some management companies are responding by taking a proactive, rather…
Don’t Let Problem Clients Hold You Hostage
Just about every association manager has dealt with a problem client who’s difficult to work with, if not downright rude and obnoxious — probably more than one. These clients eat up time that could be spent more productively, create unpleasant and stressful work conditions, and lead to turnover. For many managers, these clients have become…