Articles

Reader Questions – Old CC&Rs – Expired Documents, and Who Owns the Yards? Nov 01, 2020

Kelly, I wanted to know if you have any information in regard to the expiration of California CC&Rs. I’ve heard 20 years from the time of the recorded filing of...

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Reader Questions – Who Decides on the HOA Colors? And, A Neighbor Hates Mine. Oct 26, 2020

Mr. Richardson: Help!  During a monthly meeting, I presented a petition signed by many homeowners concerning the color that they were going to paint the complex...

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Civility Must Start Somewhere Oct 19, 2020

From presidential debate stages to courtrooms to families to HOAs, civility is becoming so rare, it should be considered endangered. Differences of opinion are no longer...

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Reader Questions – Surprised by Assessments – are they Legal? Oct 12, 2020

Hi Kelly,

There is going to be an assessment at my condo and we are being told that we all must pay equally even though a number of us will have no benefit from the work...

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Reader Questions – Tenants With Criminal Backgrounds, and Are Drying Racks OK? Oct 05, 2020

Dear Kelly,

Apparently my HOA made a change in the CC&Rs. The HOA requires that any prospective tenants must be approved by the board, and that no applicant who has a...

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Reader Questions – Fair Housing Violations? Restrictions on Hard Floors and Outside Play Sep 27, 2020

Mr. Richardson:

I enjoy reading your column.

I recently bought a condo and was in the process of replacing the carpet with laminate flooring because of allergies. The HOA...

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Discontinue The Troubling and Unnecessary Proxy Sep 20, 2020

Proxies are still used in most HOAs and continue to contribute to confusion and controversy during HOA elections.

A proxy is a document by which one association member...

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Reader Questions - The Reserve Fund – How Much Is Too Much? Sep 13, 2020

Mr. Richardson: Something has been bothering me for a while regarding the reserve funding level that is appropriate for a given association. Many associations strive (and...

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Reader Questions - Can Non-Residents Run? Why Can’t Spouses of Directors? Sep 06, 2020

Mr. Richardson:

Can a non-resident owner be on the board? A board member moved but still stayed on the board while he rented his unit. Several homeowners opposed, but the...

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Reader Questions - Our HOA Stopped Meeting - Is That OK? Aug 31, 2020

Dear Mr. Richardson:

Our board says that due to the pandemic they are suspending board meetings "until further notice." Our bylaws state board meetings must be held at...

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Embracing Virtual Meeting Function – Now and Later Aug 23, 2020

Many months now into the pandemic, some associations have stopped conducting board meetings. That is a mistake on many levels, but also completely unnecessary. Boards do...

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Reader Questions – Can HOAs Ban Political, Patriotic or Religious Displays? Aug 16, 2020

Hi Kelly,

We (along with our neighbors) put out candidate and ballot measure signs prior to our elections. We looked into this several years ago and it appears that...

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