What Makes for a Good Set of Meeting Minutes? – Article by Robert M. DeNichilo
Of all the various issues boards deal with, one of the issues that comes up time and again are meeting minutes. What are they? What should be in them? Incorrectly kept minutes can get a board in trouble. They can invalidate proper board actions, lead to claims for defamation or support claims for breach of … Continue reading
Owner Liability for Acts of Tenants – Article by Beth A Grimm
When an owner of a condo or townhome places a tenant, care should be taken to screen carefully. Some owners are desperate to rent their homes and so they do so without regard to careful screening or introducing any situation that might cause a rift between the tenant and their neighbors. Sometimes “bad stuff” just … Continue reading
The Smoker Next Door: Secondhand Smoke + Condominiums = Trouble – Article by David C. Swedelson, Esq., Condo and HOA Attorney
Recent reports indicate that only 12% of California adults smoke cigarettes. The problem is that they all live in condominiums, or so you would think from all the reports of problems we are receiving relating to complaints from the non-smokers who do not want to smell cigarettes. And the issue is not limited to cigarettes; … Continue reading
CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE AUTHORITY (CEA) EARTHQUAKE (EQ) COVERAGE FOR HOMEOWNERS OR RENTERS – Article provided by Erin Rose
California Earthquake Authority (CEA) is available to owners or renters of condominiums, townhomes and other units in the common interest developments. Association EQ insurance policies cover only the structures and typically would have a very high deductible. The CEA helps the homeowner cover their deductible, as well as provide coverage for their contents, any upgrades to … Continue reading
Your Day Job Is Different Than Your “Night Job” – Article by Kelly G. Richardson, Esq.
Serving as a volunteer director is hard enough, but it often is made more difficult by directors themselves. The problem is not a lack of good will, good thinking or hard work, but a misunderstanding about the basic nature of volunteer board service. In one’s career, whether in business, government service or elsewhere, one … Continue reading
Roof Rats – Article by Jim Fontaine
What caused the hole in this wood shake roof? Tornado? Hurricane? Vandalism? Satellite Dish Installer? Lightening? Meteor? Gremlins? Block of ice from an airliner’s bathroom (yuk!)? No! Believe it or not, raccoons, opossums and large rodents are usually the culprits. One would think that in urban Southern California this couldn’t be possible, but that is … Continue reading
New ADA Pool Accessibility Standards: What HOAs Need to Know – Article by Molly Foley-Healy
We have been hearing a lot of buzz out in the HOA world about the new Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) regulations relating to pool accessibility standards. Many associations are confused about whether these new standards apply to their communities, what exactly the pool accessibility standards require and when modifications to pools and spas must be … Continue reading
Water Damage Prevention – Article by Leonard B. Hom
Water damage claims can be very expensive to deal with, cause untold frustrations and have the potential for a living nightmare within your HOA complex. While you cannot prevent every possible situation where water can cause damage; here’s a list of simple steps every association can take to reduce/eliminate many causes of water damage issues. … Continue reading
LIFETIME TILE ROOFS, FACT OR FICTION? – Article by Carl A. Brown, RCI, RRO
The world of roofing is very competitive, causing product manufacturers to seek ways to separate themselves by offering more and more. The latest marketing trend is to advertise “lifetime” tile roofs. These “tile” roof products can be made of a variety of materials including concrete, clay and even steel. They are sold in a variety … Continue reading
BIKES ON BALCONY – IS IT A RIGHT? – Article by Beth A Grimm, P.L.C
Owners in a condo association commonly bristle at one rule or another; however, collectively, enforcement of reasonable rules is generally a good thing. Here are some comments and questions from a reader: “I’m wondering if there is any legal precedent allowing me to store my bike on my 3rd floor balcony. My HOA has so much … Continue reading
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