Articles

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. CCAL, HOA Homefront Column 

Dear Kelly: I moved into my townhouse four years ago with the dry rot and termite situation apparent. I received a le...

By Matthew A. Gardner, Esq., CCAL

Summer often provides community association boards with a brief opportunity to step back from the pace of meetings, projects, and day-to-day...

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. CCAL, HOA Homefront Column 

Mr. Richardson: Can our HOA board unilaterally write off borrowing from the reserve account as a bad debt? After the ...

Reflections from CAI President Matt Ober, Esq., CCAL, at the 2026 CAI Annual Conference

When my wife Stacy and I purchased our first home together in 1987, we were newly marr...

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. CCAL, HOA Homefront Column 

Dear Kelly: Our reserves are very very low - can the city or state take over our association? B.P., Huntington Beach

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. CCAL, HOA Homefront Column 

Kelly: I've enjoyed and appreciated your articles in the paper. Wish more board members would read them and take your...

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. CCAL, HOA Homefront Column

[Last of a 4-part series]

Along with the property’s overall condition, effective, positive, and orderly board meeting...

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. CCAL, HOA Homefront Column

Adopting and enforcing community rules is an important board responsibility.  Developers provide CC&Rs and bylaws (usu...

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. CCAL, HOA Homefront Column

Operating rules are often called “house rules” or “rules and regulations,” and must be written pursuant to Civil Code ...

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. CCAL, HOA Column

Good community rules and regulations (“operating rules,” per Civil Code Section 4340) protect the community and encourage neighb...

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq., HOA Homefront Column 

Emergency special assessments have saved many HOAs from disaster. One recent example occurred during the rise in property ...

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq., HOA Homefront Column

Kelly: Our HOA has not kept up with building maintenance. I along with other residents have reported issues to our board bu...