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The conundrum of whether to provide lifeguards is real. “It creates an interesting debate within boards, and not everyone agrees,” says Kelly Richardson, a partner in the law firm Richardson Ober De Nichilo in Pasadena, Calif. “It’s not a bright-line issue with easy answers.” Here are some of the factors you should make sure your…

Times change, and so do your risk exposures. That means your long-time general liability and property insurance policies may not be sufficient to provide the coverage you need these days. “I’m concerned about managers being stuck paying $20,000 to $100,000 in legal fees, not even including the settlement or judgment,” says Steven Fischer, vice president…

The Texas Supreme Court has ruled that an association can qualify as a “prevailing party” entitled to recover its attorneys’ fees under the Uniform Condominium Act (UCA) when it successfully defends against an owner’s claims. More than a dozen states have adopted some version of the UCA. The owner sued the HOA and its board…

When a manager brings a lawsuit on behalf of a client association, the other party is likely to claim the manager doesn’t have the “standing” to do so. In essence, the other party is claiming the manager isn’t the person harmed and therefore has no legal right to complain. Read on to learn how this…

Corporate investors increasingly are invading community associations, buying up homes and renting them out. In the first part of this two-part article, we talked to some of our experts about how this is playing out on the ground and the impact on associations. In the second part, we’ll discuss how you can help your clients…

A recent ruling by the Arizona Supreme Court seems to significantly curtail the ability of associations in the state to amend their governing documents. And the impact of the ruling could be felt beyond Arizona’s borders. The case involved a small HOA outside Tucson, with only five lots. The lots range from 3.3 to 6.6…

We recently explained how associations ready to convert to sustainable landscaping can determine the degree of change their communities can stomach, as well as some of the initial issues to consider once that determination is made. Now, we’ll look at some of the ways that associations can make meaningful investments upfront and help offset their…

U.S. Representatives Charlie Crist (D-Fla.) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) recently introduced the Securing Access to Finance Exterior Repairs (SAFER) in Condos Act of 2022 (H.R. 7532). The legislation would allow condo owners to finance special assessments with loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). But, if enacted, the law might not provide the…

States across the country are passing legislation that forbids community associations from banning residential solar panels and charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) in most circumstances. What do so-called solar access and right-to-charge laws mean for your clients? We talked to some experts in states that have such laws in place to find out. When…

You’re probably very familiar with the different kinds of housing discrimination, but you might not be aware of a form of employment discrimination that could land you in hot legal water. Here’s what you need to know about family responsibility discrimination (FRD) and how to avoid it. What It Is Family responsibility discrimination, also known…