Condo, HOA, and co-op boards are generally made up of volunteers—and they're frequently a pretty diverse group. There’s the stay-at-home mom who’s looking to get involved with something beyond homework and housework. Maybe there’s also t…
Q As property manager for a 36-unit condominium, we have received complaints about smoke emanating from a downstairs unit to an upstairs unit and common area hallway. There has been an ongoing feud for several years now between the ups…
Q We have an owner in our condominium association, who is several months behind in his fees. He currently has a tenant in his unit. The association pays the bill for his water, sewage, pool and other amenities. Do we as an association h…
Q Does the secretary and treasurer position have to be a board member or can it be delegated/hired? —Curious in Chicago A “Most condominium association bylaws,” says attorney and managing partner Ebony Lucas of Chicag…
Q With respect to the exterior of a condominium, who has basic ownership rights and responsibilities for maintenance and repairs—the unit owner or the association? Can a unit owner have an air conditioner installed through a licensed…
Q I am three months behind in my association payments. Can the condominium foreclose on my unit? My mortgage payments are up to date, and I called my lender who said no, they cannot foreclose. I wrote a letter to the board asking f…
Every condo or homeowners association has its own board and management company to handle the community's day-to-day business and administrative activities but who advocates for those communities at the municipal and state level? Who loo…
Q Is there an expectation of privacy for correspondences sent to the HOA? Is material sent to the board closed to public scrutiny? --Confidentiality in a Condo A “Usually not. I am not aware of any sort of confide…
Q My aunt owns a condo. The condo on top of hers had a plumbing problem that was leaking to her bathroom. They opened a hole in her wall to see the condition of her pipes. They were rusty and with leaks. Is the building association …
Some property managers fly through their to-do lists with the greatest of ease, while others send you to voicemail. Again. The difference between a serviceable manager and a really great one may not be something they’re born with; but m…