Articles

The Drought Emergency is Over. Back to Business as Usual? Apr 10, 2017

On April 7, 2017, Governor Brown issued Executive Order B-40-17, formally ending the drought emergency, which can be read in its entirety at https://www.gov.ca.gov,...

Continue Reading...
Reader Questions - Volunteer Means NO PROFIT Apr 03, 2017

Dear Mr. Richardson,

A board member also owns several properties elsewhere. An HOA vendor told me that this director demands, and gets, ‘discounts’ from the...

Continue Reading...
Reader Questions - Leave My Tenant Alone Mar 20, 2017

Hello Mr. Richardson,

I recently received a letter from our management company, that all owners that rent their units out must submit a copy of the agreement to the...

Continue Reading...
Reader Questions - Enforcing Unwritten Rules Mar 13, 2017

Hello Mr. Richardson,

Your articles are a wonderful resource for all involved with CIDs. I try to never miss an article.

This past year we got a new manager and there has...

Continue Reading...
Exclusive Use Common Areas: What You Might Not Know Mar 06, 2017

Many condominium buyers do not understand what they bought until long after becoming an owner. Condominiums consist of two elements: A “separate interest”,...

Continue Reading...
Reader Questions - Whose Pipes Are Those? Feb 27, 2017

I hope all is well. Thank you for your great HOA articles.

What is the definition of internal installations of the unit? Are pipes in the wall considered internal...

Continue Reading...
Reader Questions - HOA Needs Intensive Care Feb 20, 2017

Hello Mr. Richardson,

Long story short, the members have all been reluctant to get involved on our board for many years. They are all fine with someone else doing it.

Our...

Continue Reading...
The Board Balancing Act Feb 13, 2017

The ancient Chinese concept of yin and yang deals with opposite and inseparable forces. Common interest developments (“homeowner associations”) have their own...

Continue Reading...
Reader Questions - We’re STILL Dealing With Drought? Feb 06, 2017

Mr. Richardson,

Regarding water cutbacks and dead lawns, can an HOA require homeowners who stopped watering to replace their dead lawns with other types of ground cover...

Continue Reading...
Don’t Be Caught Napping: Your Rights At Risk! Jan 30, 2017

Some well-intentioned ideas can boomerang and hurt those who are intended to be helped. Such is the new Civil Code 4041, created by last year’s SB918.

Section 4041...

Continue Reading...
Reader Questions - Whose Meeting Is it; I Wasn’t Invited Jan 23, 2017

Mr. Richardson,

In the spirit of shedding light on HOA governance would you please write about the difference between regular open board meetings and the annual homeowners...

Continue Reading...
Unruly Meetings or Meeting Rules Jan 16, 2017

Other than the overall condition of the common areas, one of the first opportunities for associations to make a positive impression upon new members is at meetings of the...

Continue Reading...