Articles

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq.

Hi Kelly: It is my opinion, we the homeowners have no rights in being run by a board of directors, a management company as well as the law. Sound...

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. 

Our Association has one board member who I’ll call “Rick.” “Rick” keeps repeating the same mantras: “Our CC&Rs are so old they aren’t enforceabl...

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq., CCAL

Dear Kelly: Our bylaws require 2-year residency before eligibility to serve on our board, BUT we’re desperate for a treasurer with experien...

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq.

Question: Our HOA egregiously violated Davis-Stirling rules by not offering due process to a resident fined for an alleged architectural misdemea...

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq., CCAL  

Kelly, thank you for your column. Someone who just moved told me that there is an HOA transfer fee of over $800, however it was reduced t...

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq., CCAL

There are HOA myths that are harmful. Here are some of the most common ones.

Governing documents are boilerplate. Most HOA homebuyers read...

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq., CCAL

Dear Mr. Richardson: I live in an association with several hundred members where it is quite often difficult to fill our seven-member board...

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq., CCAL

Quite recently, two of the largest residential property insurance companies announced major cutbacks in California. State Farm announced it...

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. 

Hi Kelly: Three of the members of our HOA board are employed directly or through service contracts with the master community company. They hold ...

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq.

Dear Kelly: What happens if the reserves go to zero? What is insolvency? B.E., Tarzana

Dear B.E.: HOAs which fail to set aside money in their re...

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq.

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

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. CCAL

Last year, HOAs received a very helpful new tool with the enactment of Civil Code Section 5103 – election by acclamation. This allows HOAs t...