Effective communication stands as the cornerstone of success for HOA/condo associations. From fostering transparency to nurturing a sense of community, clear and consistent communication channels can distinguish excellent associations from mediocre ones. Set forth below are some strategies to promote outstanding communication skills within your community: Open Dialogue at Board Meetings: Dedicate a specific time at the beginning or end [...]
Under Arizona law, owners are able to inspect and have copies of a large portion of an association’s books and records. And, that is a good thing! Associations should be transparent and welcome owners to take a look at things more carefully. Arizona law provides clear direction on what owners can and cannot see under a records request. Under A.R.S. [...]
Hatfields vs. McCoys: Does our Board Have to get involved in feuds between neighbors in our HOA/Condo? Short answer: It depends. Sorry to be vague, but, each situation between feuding neighbors needs to be carefully evaluated in light of some recent changes to Fair Housing laws. In 2016, Fair Housing laws were amended to document a community association’s potential liability [...]
I have seen a recent uptick in clients and my seminar attendees asking questions about The Board of Director's Code of Conduct. A Code of Conduct describes the expectations of board members during, and in some cases after, their service to the community. While many of the issues addressed are already codified by Arizona law, adoption of a written, signed [...]
Between now and June 1, 2021, it is “annual meeting season” in Arizona! With the Covid-19 Pandemic still in full force, it is our opinion that associations should be conducting their 2021 annual meeting via a “virtual” platform such as Zoom. Under Arizona law, A.R.S. 33-1804(B) and 33-1248(B), an association must conduct an annual meeting of its membership at least [...]
HOA and condo owners in Arizona have broad legal rights to inspect and copy their association’s books and records. In fact, there are very few association records an association can withhold from disclosure to its members. Arizona law requires planned communities (A.R.S. Section 33-1805) and condominiums (A.R.S. Section 33-1258) to make all financial and other records of the association reasonably [...]
I’m often asked for a quick 5 minute summary of what board members need to know to stay out of trouble while they are serving on their board. Here is a quick overview of a board member’s responsibilities. 1. Run the association as a business (for example, use licensed, bonded and insured vendors). 2. Follow your association’s documents and the [...]
While it is difficult to predict 2021 with 100% accuracy (hello...2020 COVID-19 pandemic!), here are our law firm’s 10 predictions for HOA and condo boards/managers in 2021. Continued Use of Virtual Meetings: Boards will continue to conduct virtual board/annual meetings until there is widespread vaccination available (and maybe even beyond!). I encourage boards and managers to check out our Cheat [...]
The ongoing global pandemic has created numerous challenges for community associations, which has further emphasized the importance of Board leadership. With that in mind, right now is a great time to focus on leadership qualities, several of which are discussed below in more detail: (1) Emphasizing Teamwork: Your Board can achieve success by acting as a team (consider participating in [...]
Author: Lauren Vie, Esq. Many boards have taken the position that the board does not have an obligation to address reports of harassment in the community. Generally, boards try to avoid confrontation and are unsure how to deal with a resident who harasses others. Boards tend to be reluctant to escalate matters and incur legal fees. Some board members are [...]
