Articles

Recording Meetings, Secret Budget Talks, and a Dictator President Sep 24, 2018

Hello Mr. Richardson,

Our board announced that audio recordings of meetings would no longer be allowed. What are your thoughts on this? Does this...

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California Now Has Fair Housing Regulations: Sexual Harassment is Illegal Sep 17, 2018

The federal Housing and Urban Development Department (“HUD”), adopted regulations in September 2016 which for the first time prohibited sexual harassment within...

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Reader Questions - Boards Elections [Part 3] Sep 10, 2018

Dear Kelly,

We successfully recalled our HOA board, yet the next day after the vote the recalled directors held a special meeting and enacted lots of business. We believe...

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Reader Questions - Boards Elections [Part 2] Sep 03, 2018

Dear Mr. Richardson,

We cannot get people to volunteer to be on the board. I have been on the board and told the manager I didn’t want to run. She put my name on the...

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Reader Questions - Boards Elections [Part 1] Aug 27, 2018

Mr. Richardson,

What recourse does a member have if the board refuses to abide by the governing documents or state law? Our president refuses to hold the annual election...

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Keep the Lawyers at Bay [Ten Tips] Aug 20, 2018

Serving as a volunteer director is often thankless, but it shouldn’t be risky. Here are ten ways to reduce if not prevent personal risk from your service.

1. Learn...

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Reader Questions - Boards Barking About Dogs Aug 06, 2018

Dear Mr. Richardson,

Our CC&R’s limit the number of pets a homeowner can have to a “reasonable” number. City law states a resident outside of an HOA...

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Reader Questions - Ramped Up Assessments, Where To Pay Jul 30, 2018

Mr. Richardson,

This year our HOA dues increased 20%. The reason given was plumbing issues due to sewage backups. When I asked about just having a special assessment to...

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Reader Questions - We Have Unwritten Rules Jul 23, 2018

Dear Mr. Richardson,

Our board frequently adopts new rules, generally following the required process of providing 30-day notice to homeowners prior to voting at an open...

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Reader Questions - Candid Cameras in Our Association Jul 16, 2018

Mr. Richardson,

Can the HOA install a camera in one garage area but not others? The HOA also installed a camera in the pool in order to catch one person’s possible...

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Reader Questions - Are These Rules Valid? Jul 09, 2018

Dear Mr. Richardson,

The Davis-Stirling Act requires HOAs to develop certain operating rules, e.g., for elections or dispute resolution. Can (or should) the required rules...

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13 Surefire Steps to Guarantee Board Meetings Will Be Longer [Satire] Jul 02, 2018

If board service is not difficult enough, you can crank it up a notch by making board meetings much longer. If people aren’t dozing by meeting’s end and if...

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