Across the country, homeowner associations have begun to fight back against corporate investors who are scooping up individual single-family homes and condominium units with the sole intention of using them as rental properties. In recent years, highly funded corporations have been buying thousands of homes in desirable areas and adding them to their growing rental portfolios. This activity has resulted in a lack of affordable housing for homebuyers and a high turnover of renters, resulting in an outcry amongst associations looking to protect their communities. The Biden administration has identified the corporate activity throughout the U.S. as one of the… Read More »

Many Association owners have a dog or a cat as part of their household. Adopting a policy that protects the Association’s property and rights of all Members can be challenging for a Board. Here are some basic tips for developing a Pet Ownership Policy. Make it specific. A rule specifying that dogs must be leashed serves an obvious purpose, but a rule specifying how long that leash may be does not. Make it consistent with governing documents and state statutes. Some states do not allow associations to ban dogs. Such a rule would be invalid. Some Association documents limit the number of… Read More »

If you live in a community that has an homeowners’ association, consider yourself lucky! Many homeowners’ associations and condominium communities offer a range of amenities that can include clubhouses, swimming pools, tennis courts, fitness centers, playgrounds, lakes and ponds, and golf courses. The typical association may also provide services such as trash pickup, street paving and lighting, snow removal and the maintenance of common areas—services that were once the exclusive province of local municipalities. This transfer, or privatization, of services has become commonplace as the demand for housing has outpaced the ability of many local governments to provide services. Municipalities now require developers… Read More »

We keep getting complaints about neighbor behavior at our community pool. It’s driving the Board crazy. What can we do to control the madness? Who doesn’t love a community pool? It is the location for summer-time memories, and because it is, the best way for everyone to enjoy the pool is by having an agreed-upon set of pool rules. The off-season is the perfect time of year to start thinking about reviewing past problems and how to set the pool up for everyone’s safety and enjoyment. Create Rules that Cover It All. HOA board members and community managers need to… Read More »

Operating a homeowners association carries many of the same duties and responsibilities as overseeing any other business. Serving as a Board Member is a valuable and rewarding experience that should be undertaken by those who see it as an opportunity to serve their neighbors while protecting and enhancing the community. PRESIDENT The president is in charge of the day-to-day administration of the association and serves as the board’s spokesperson in most matters related to association business. Typically, he or she will preside over all meetings of the board and residents. The president will execute contracts, orders, and other documents on the… Read More »

Virtual meetings have many benefits, including saving travel time and allowing members to participate who might not otherwise be able to do so. Before rushing to hold your board meeting electronically, check to make certain you can. State law or the governing documents need to authorize meeting remotely. It’s also important to understand how virtual gatherings can differ from in-person ones. Here are some issues to consider: Technology. Assume there will be technology issues, whether big or small. Members may experience the same meeting differently because of their hardware and connection speeds. Meeting dynamics. While in-person meetings may argue over issues, there is still a… Read More »