Condo Association Management Blog

Condo association board wants to hold silent meetings - how awkward?

Because there are condo association residents that are not comfortable speaking up at an annual meeting, the condo board is proposing that we pass paper around at the meeting and have  people put their comment on paper. Then the comments can be read by a board member. This feels awkward and inappropriate to me. I feel that a resident can address an issue in writing to the board, before the meeting, and have a set as an agenda item. Is it appropriate to pass paper around at a meeting asking for questions?

Property managers' responsibility to HOA and Condo Association boards

My question is about community property managers. How much guidance must a community property manager give a condo association or HOA board? If the property manager knows that something should or shouldn't be done by the board, does that manager have a duty to speak up. Even if the specific subject is not mentioned in the management contract?

For instance, let's say that the property manager sees that a board member is going to do something risky or something that would violate the governing documents, should or does the manager have a duty to speak out and inform the board member of the situation?  And, along the same lines, if a board member asks for the assistance of a community property manager to violate a governing document provision, does the manager have the duty to refuse to participate in the action?

Is window and trim replacement the responsibility of the HOA?

Our HOA bylaws say that windows are the responsibility of the home owner. I questioned this before I purchased my condo and was told if the windows had to be changed, I would be responsible for payment of the brand new window and that was all. I was told the installation and trim would be the responsibility of the HOA. Are skylights part of the roof or do they also go under windows as mentioned in the bylaws? I wish they made a comment about skylights in the bylaws but it is not there. The bylaws says the roof is not the responsibility of the condo owner.

My neighbor needs the trim that goes around the window on the siding replaced and was told that goes with the windows and I truly think that is wrong but our property management company would have us do everything and just collect our monthly fee if they could. Can anyone answer these questions for me. Greatly appreciated

Change of HOA manager title may change attitudes of members?

I have just started working as an independent manager for an HOA which consists of a little over 150 units. The last manager they had also lived here (and still does).  Conflicts of interest and preferential treatment seems to have left many frustrated. However there is a group of people upset and angry with the HOA board over the older manager resigning. Basically, the entire community is in need of some time to heal and reestablish healthy boundaries.

My question is this: The title "Business Manager" was used and although I understand the importance of placing the HOA operations within the business context, I feel that this community needs to regain their trust for this office and their faith that the office and the board can work together. One small way I would like to move in this direction is to change the position's title. I was thinking along the lines of "Community Manager" however I was really hoping to get some input. I know this may seem small, but I feel that it is an important step in redefining the manager's relationship with the residents. Thanks.

Bad HOA board, even worse property manager; both have to go

I live in a 180 unit HOA in California and my question is what does it take to get rid of your property manager that is never doing there job, and our property is suffering for it. We also have a very inactive board that has members that have been on this board for years and keep getting elected because they have done such bad job of everything no one wants to be on the board with them. 

I was on the board last year they made it hell for me and noting ever got done because they voted against me each time. I am not a board member and will not do it again until this board is gone. I am at witt's end and tried to get help from anywhere on what can we do before our property goes under we have lost some really good owner because they move out can't take it anymore we are gone.

We are getting vendors in from property manager that are not to do business on anyone property.  Everything is a secret from the residents and they fight us all the way.  The HOA board is bad and the property manager is just as bad What can we do?

HOA board - car parking and towing problems

I own a condo in Tampa Florida, I have been here for 7 years and have seen one property management company come and go, this last one has gotten very strict with rules and posts them by mailboxes and such frequently, it makes me feel like a child.

My question though is considering towing and private property. I own two covered carport spots, I had to purchase them with the condo, so they are my private spots, and the board has issued a towing company to actively tow cars who have not parked in visitors spots if they do not have a decal. There are less than 2 visitor spots per building and each building has 7 units.

Now the HOA board is allowing the tow company to tow cars without decals from under the carports, so if I have a guest over they cannot park in my private car port spot, is it illegal for them to tow from my carport spot if I own it? I was under the impression that is my private property. I want to properly bring up this issue at the next board meeting how should I do that? I also wonder if the condo association is responsible for paying to have them in our complex every night of the week? If I wanted to put a stop to this active towing every night and keep it to where the residents have to call to get an illegal car towed how do I do that? I don’t know if I need to start a petition or talk to other owners first. I appreciate any help as I do not want to stir up a problem at the meeting without some sort of knowledge!

How can we remove uninformed and potentially corrupt HOA board?

I would like to see the whole HOA board removed as I believe there has been some corruption going on with replacing items that do not need to be replaced and not doing what needs to be done and not allowing the condo owners to have a say in the color of a new roof, replacing skylights that they have to pay for that was put in by an inexperience roofer who damaged all 7 of mine while installing.

At the present time we have 3 appointed people on the board and they are all on the side of the HOA without knowing anything about this place and what the HOA has done.

• How long can someone stay in office when appointed by the HOA because someone resigned?
• When do we get a chance to vote for someone new for the position vacated that someone was appointed to by the HOA?
• Do we have to wait until the term is up for the original board member that resigned before we can vote someone we want to fill that position or do we have to wait and accept the appointed person for the rest of someone's term which may be almost 3 years?

Any help would be appreciated. We only have 90 units and I want to get the board off now before they do something else and charge everyone another $1,000 assessment but everyone here thinks it is not easy to do that but now we will have 3 appointed members.

Is HOA responsible for financially compensating woman in wheelchair?

I live in a condo with my Mom who is in a wheelchair. The elevator is down for repairs for one month. What are the responsibilities of the HOA to accommodate my mother. I cannot get insurance to pay this time. They did on a claim last year but are now saying they will not. What can I do to make the HOA pay for us to stay in a hotel or to get in and out of the condo? We are on the second floor. Thank you.

HOA board terrorized by "hard to handle" delinquent owner

I am the president of my condo association, and am dealing with a difficult situation. Our condo association has a high delinquency rate. We are a 150-unit property with over 40 homeowners behind in assessments. In total, in arrears is about $100,000. Earlier this year, the board voted to reassign the delinquent owners' spaces to visitors spaces, per our a provision in our bylaws. Residents can still park in front of their homes, but being that their spaces are now marked "Visitor", their spaces are fair game. This action lit a fire under some homeowners to start working out payment arrangements. Per our bylaws, once a delinquent homeowner has paid at least 50% of the amount owned, his/her parking assignment(s) will be restored. Most homeowners, while upset about this, respect the rules and regulations and are working on paying down their delinquencies.

However, we have one owner -- an incredibly rude and defiant woman -- who owes over $8,000 (the most of any owner) and she refuses to abide by the rules. We've had her space spray painted at least three times because she goes and spray paints it back. When we talk to her about it, she lashes out with all kinds of irrational talk and profanity. She said she's not working and is on disability and she knows we can't do anything to her, so she feels she is justified in taking her space back. Yet those who owe less than her are forced to deal with the situation. This woman comes to board meetings terrorizing us with all kinds of demands for work she says needs to be done in and around her unit. Yet we haven't see a payment from her since 2005. We got a judgment against her last year. And when we attempted to file a lien against her, she scrambled to make an effort to pay. We were fooled. The condo attorney is slow-moving on this issue and just refiled the lien 2 months ago. There was a "show cause" hearing last week, and the woman claimed she is on disability and babysits occasionally. Meanwhile, she drives a 2008 Lexus. She's living off of something, but what we don't know. We feel like our hands are tied and this woman is holding us hostage. She said she knows we can't do anything to her because we can't garnish her disability payment. We are looking at possibly pursuing a bank garnishment or putting a lien on her car. She volunteered that someone else already has a lien on her car; apparently she was thinking ahead.

My questions are: (1) what can we do to enforce the parking? The county police said since we are private property they can't enforce. Is there some sort of foolproof paint we can use on her space? and (2) what remedies could we pursue to collect payment?

I cannot fathom the association having to foot the bill for work needing to be done to her unit all the while she's sitting around carefree with no intentions of even trying to pay a dollar towards the thousands that she owes us? We are hesitant to foreclose as we might not be able to resell her unit in this economy. Please help. Thanks.

HOA board forcing out president with 3 strikes missed meeting policy

Two HOA board members (directors) are calling for board meetings. The president of board has a full time job and doesn't get out of work till 6pm. These directors are calling meetings at 5pm, knowing full well she cannot attend. They are trying to use the HOA rule: Miss three meetings and your removed from your office. This rule has never ever been used or enforced in the past. Their whole intention are to appoint another person as President. These two directors have in the last 6 months fractured the HOA board. This is taking place in Florida. Is there any recourse the President has? One meeting was called on a Friday at 5pm the other now is two days later on Monday at 5pm. Any suggestions would be helpful.