Swimming Pools: Required Safety Signs
*Asked & Answered Asked – Is there a new sign requirement for pools located in homeowners associations? Answered – Yes. Title 24 of the California Building Code was updated to require new safety signs for public swimming pools. (Association pools are considered public pools.) Two new signs are required for all pools: A sign shall […]
SB 822 to Clarify Contractor Licensing Reqs. for HOA Managers
We recently blogged about some concerns which have surfaced in the HOA industry regarding the impact of new contractor licensing requirements. AB 2237 was passed in 2012 by the California Legislature to expand on the definition of the “contractors” who must be licensed by the state. That expanded definition includes language which could be read […]
AB 2237: Contractor Licensing Law & Its Impact on HOA Managers
*New Legislation AB 2237 was passed in 2012 by the California Legislature to expand the legal requirements for the “contractors” who are required to have a General Contractor’s “B” license from the State of California. The “contractors” who must be licensed are defined in Cal. Business and Professions Code Section 7026.1(b)(1). They include “[a]ny person, […]
Association Reserve Accounts and Reserve Studies
*New Library Article “Always be prepared.” That simple phrase sums up the importance of funding and properly maintaining a reserve account. Accidents and surprise maintenance issues will inevitably pop up. When they do, the HOA that has been properly funding and managing its reserve account will be prepared to do what is necessary to protect […]
Legislative & Case Law Update (2013) Now Available!
Our annual “Legislative & Case Law Update” newsletter for the year 2013 is now available in our library! The Legislative & Case Law Update provides an overview of the new legislation and case law impacting California Homeowners Associations (“HOAs”) as we head into 2013. The new legislation includes, among other items, bills that impact Bank […]
California’s New Fire Prevention “Fee”
Homeowners in California should be expecting a new bill in their mailbox for the calendar year 2011 and onward. The California legislature has passed a controversial new Fire Prevention Fee which will aim to defray the State’s costs for fire prevention services. The new fee–argued by some to be a tax–will affect homes that are […]
Arbitration Provisions Rise Again in Construction Defect Disputes
*New Case Law On August 16, 2012 the California Supreme Court announced its decision in a case that will undoubtedly impact homeowners associations (“HOAs”), developers, owners and insurers in disputes arising from construction defects. The ruling in Pinnacle Museum Tower Association v. Pinnacle Market Development (US) LLC sets the stage for construction defect disputes to […]
HOA’s Ability to Impose Assessments for Maintaining Exclusive Use Common Areas?
*Asked & Answered Asked – My condominium association is imposing a special assessment against all owners to reimburse it for costs incurred in repairing the structure of an owner’s leaking balcony. Because the balcony is “exclusive use common area” to be maintained by the individual owner, is my association in compliance with Civil Code §1364? […]
HOA Board Member Access to Homeowner Mailboxes?
*Asked & Answered Asked – Does our HOA Board President have the right to access our locked mailboxes in order to put a name card on the box? Answered – No. There are no Federal statutory provisions specifically addressing this situation; however, no one except the homeowner or the postal worker is allowed to open […]
Association Repair and Renovation Loans
*New Resource As communities mature, the need for major repairs or renovations can become a major concern. Often because of unforeseen problems or insufficiently funded reserves, community associations (associations) are not capable of funding the necessary repairs immediately. In order to avoid a piecemeal repair effort in such situations, or the possibility of additional problems […]