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Q: What is a “management company,” what do they do, and how do I reach them?
A: A management company is a contracted vendor who takes care of the day to day operation of the community. This will include collecting dues, paying vendors, maintaining records, assisting with escrow, community maintenance requests and rule violations. You would reach your assigned property manager directly by phone or email.
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Q: What is a homeowner’s association?
A: A homeowner’s association is a group of people that own their own condo but share what is referred to as common area. Common area would be communal parking garages, gardens, driveway, pool, sometimes plumbing and roof’s. Anything that has a shared benefit to more than one owner is typically considered common area.
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Q: What are the Bylaws?
A: The Bylaws are one of the governing documents for the association. The Bylaws usually cover voting rules, length of Board term, and Board positions.
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Q: What is the Board of Directors?
A: An elected group of owners that make decision on behalf of all owners. The Board of directors would oversee contracts, set budgets, plan for long term maintenance items and resolve owner disputes.
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Q: Are there any other rules?
A: Yes, and the rules in place depend on the community. Every association has a document called the CC&R’s which stands for Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions. This is an official document that is recorded with the State and acts as a contract between all owners. Additionally, the complex may develop a Rules and Regulations document that covers areas not defined in the CC&R’s. Examples of rules you may have in the Rules and Regulations document are pool rules, move in rules, quiet hours, pet policies and other things of that nature.
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Q: If I am having a problem with a neighbor for a violation of the Policies and Guidelines, what can I do?
A: er by phone call or email asking for correction of the issue. For more serious violations the manager may send a certified letter citing the HOA governing documents and threatening fines. The final step would be setting up a hearing with the Board to discuss the violations and correct the issue.
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Q: Are Board Meetings open to all residents? If so, where and when are they held?
A: No, meetings are open to all owners in good standing. Offsite owners are welcome to attend, and renters are not.
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Q: If I want to serve on a committee, how do I find out what committees are active and how can I get involved?
A: Committees are a great way to get projects done and are more representative of what the other owners in the complex want out of their property. If your association does have landscape, design or other committees formed simply expressing an interest in joining to the Board or management should be enough.
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Q: What is my due/assessment?
A: Every owner has to pay HOA dues to provide funds for the HOA to operate. The HOA dues pay for insurance, utilities, maintenance of the complex, amenities, and reserve funding.
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Q: How is the amount of my dues/assessment determined?
A: The Board sets a budget for the fiscal year and the HOA dues are based on each person’s portion of that budget. The breakdown of responsibility would be stated in the CC&R’s.
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Q: Will my dues/assessment go up?
A: Prices do go up over time, so it is reasonable to expect your dues to go up as well. The appropriate dues amount varies by building and depends on how well funded your association is. Two buildings of the same size could be across the street from each other but have differing dues amounts based on how the complex is run and what is being planned.
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Q: What happens if I do not pay my dues/assessment?
A: You can be charged late fees and interest on past due assessment. Eventually if your dues remain unpaid you will be sent to a collections agent.
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Q: What expenses are paid with dues?
A: Anything that is shared. This would mean gardening or janitorial services, the management fees, insurance for the complex, earthquake insurance possibly. It may also mean water service for the complex, electricity for the common area lights. Building repairs and reserve funding are also taken into consideration.
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Q: Who determined the assessment amount?
A: The monthly assessment or HOA dues are based on the overall budget of the complex and the portion of that budget each owner is responsible for. The Board has authority over the budget and income levels for the complex. The CC&R’s define each unit’s individual portion of that income.
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Q: Who makes the decisions about association matters?
A: The Board are the decision makers. Management will have authority to make decisions on some day to day responsibilities, but the Board sets long term plans and interprets the rules of the complex.
