Why do HOAs have so much power? Q: What does the law say about an HOA rule that has not been enforced for years? What are the procedures the HOA board must take before they enforce the rule? Can a management company fine a homeowner $100 per day for not following rules? Or does it [...]
Home Smoking Policies: What do your homeowner association rules say? Q: Our condo already prohibits any smoking in common areas or on balconies. Now the homeowner association (HOA) is considering demanding that smokers seal/close their air return vents -- where smoke can easily pass from one unit to another. Also it may demand that smokers [...]
HOA: Can we shut down our HOA? What can a small community do if no one wants to step up and manage the homeowner association? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCg1nR3GzfU Q: We live in a small townhome community of 24 houses in Maryland. We have a homeowner’s association (HOA), and it is generally very mellow, without any [...]
What to do when your homeowners association is making life difficult? What do HOA's do? Q: I read the article you wrote about first-time homebuyers and homeowners associations. The State of Florida has a lot of gated communities and along with that typically comes a powerful homeowners association (HOA). Unfortunately, I didn't know that when [...]
Is there a bird nest in your dryer vent? How can you prevent a bird from nesting in your dryer vent? Q: I live in an adult condominium community. There are sparrows that have built a bird nest in the dryer vents. The vents have four louvers. It is very easy for the birds to [...]
How much should an HOA have in reserves? This reader wants to know how much an HOA should have in reserves and what happens if it’s too much. Q: Can a homeowners association have too much cash in reserves? If they do, what are the consequences? How Much Should an HOA Have in Reserves? A: [...]
How do I overturn an HOA decision? This reader doesn’t agree with a decision the HOA board made and wants to know if they have any recourse. Q: The association board of my building wants to take down basic pine trees behind my unit. The trees are healthy and provide no danger to the building. [...]
What happens when no one runs for the HOA board? This reader’s association doesn’t vote on board members, they step up whether they’re qualified or not. Q: I wanted to comment on your recent column in the Sarasota Herald Tribune relating to the use of a homeowners association (HOA) pool during COVID-19. Halfway through your [...]
Does an HOA have the power to restrict pool access due to COVID-19? This HOA board is concerned about liability and refuses to open it for residents. Q: How do I get our homeowner’s association board to open up our building’s three pools, all of which have been closed since March due to the pandemic? [...]
What happens when HOA rules aren’t enforced? This reader wants to know what happens if a board approves a request that violates governing documents. Q: I am on the board of directors of my homeowners association (HOA). The dues to our HOA are voluntary. We can't assess liens against any property in our community, we [...]
