Often new clients come to us with problems that are actually financial issues. Boards distrust the Declarant (that is, the company that created the condominium and is passing control of the Association on to the Board). Boards may also question how funds were spent by prior boards or management companies. One of the questions we…
The Carrot Approach to Collecting Assessments
Association attorneys can talk all day long about the “stick” approach to collecting delinquent assessments, because that’s what we do – we get involved after a delinquency already exists. However, the “carrot” approach to collecting assessments – essentially preventing or at least reducing delinquencies – is equally important and can save associations a lot of…
Can Community Associations Regulate Smoking?
Our clients often ask us about what authority, if any, they have to regulate or even prohibit smoking – in common areas, limited common areas, or even inside individual units. Generally speaking, associations have the authority to regulate or prohibit smoking in the common areas as well as limited common areas like decks. The best…
Upcoming Condo Law Webinars
If you missed yesterday’s webinar ‘Electronic Communications’, please click here to listen to this valuable webinar on electronic communications for community associations. Sign up for our August 25, 2010, September 8, 2010 and September 22nd webinars by clicking on the links below. August 25th at 10am – How to Determine Who Pays for What Topic:…
Blue Angels in Seattle!
Last Friday, August 6th, Condominium Law Group had the pleasure of hosting many of our friends and colleagues in the condominium “world” at the home of our executive director, Gil Price. Gil graciously opened his home to a crowd so we could pile on his roof to watch the famous Blue Angels practice for their…
What to Include in Association Records
Community associations have an obligation to maintain business records just as all corporations do. Often our clients ask us what information and documents belong in association records. As a starting point, we like to address what does not belong in those records; namely, attorney-client privileged information. Correspondence (including e-mails), memos, and attorney invoices all contain…
Avoiding Problems with Contractors
In our many years representing community associations, we have seen a rash of disputes between associations and contractors. The problems fall in to a pattern, and always involve a lack of common understanding about what the association thought they were buying, and what the contractor thought they were to supply. Our recommendations for any contract…
Condominium Law Group Now Offers Educational Webinars
Condominium Law Group recently began offering a series of free webinars on a variety of topics relating to community associations and community association law. You can view our most recent webinar by clicking this link for the recording of the CLG webinar on Popular Amendments. You can also register to view upcoming webinars using the…
Good Policies Mean Good Collections: Making the Most of Delinquent Assessments
We recently had an article published in the May/June 2010 editions of the Community Associations Journal, published by the Washington State Community Associations Institute. The article discussed our belief that adopting, understanding, and consistently enforcing a clear collections policy can mean the difference between successfully collecting money owed to your association, or not. Please follow…
Condominium and Homeowner Association Boards: the Very Basics
Condominium and Homeowner Associations are governed by boards of directors, who generally have the power to make all decisions and take all actions on behalf of their associations. Much like a small government, the Board is elected by the members of the community. Beyond election of the board members, individual members of the community are…
Transitioning from Declarant Control & Annual Audits
Often new clients come to us with problems that are actually financial issues. Boards distrust the Declarant (that is, the company that created the condominium and is passing control of the Association on to the Board). Boards may also question how funds were spent by prior boards or management companies. One of the questions we…
The Carrot Approach to Collecting Assessments
Association attorneys can talk all day long about the “stick” approach to collecting delinquent assessments, because that’s what we do – we get involved after a delinquency already exists. However, the “carrot” approach to collecting assessments – essentially preventing or at least reducing delinquencies – is equally important and can save associations a lot of…
Can Community Associations Regulate Smoking?
Our clients often ask us about what authority, if any, they have to regulate or even prohibit smoking – in common areas, limited common areas, or even inside individual units. Generally speaking, associations have the authority to regulate or prohibit smoking in the common areas as well as limited common areas like decks. The best…
Upcoming Condo Law Webinars
If you missed yesterday’s webinar ‘Electronic Communications’, please click here to listen to this valuable webinar on electronic communications for community associations. Sign up for our August 25, 2010, September 8, 2010 and September 22nd webinars by clicking on the links below. August 25th at 10am – How to Determine Who Pays for What Topic:…
Blue Angels in Seattle!
Last Friday, August 6th, Condominium Law Group had the pleasure of hosting many of our friends and colleagues in the condominium “world” at the home of our executive director, Gil Price. Gil graciously opened his home to a crowd so we could pile on his roof to watch the famous Blue Angels practice for their…
What to Include in Association Records
Community associations have an obligation to maintain business records just as all corporations do. Often our clients ask us what information and documents belong in association records. As a starting point, we like to address what does not belong in those records; namely, attorney-client privileged information. Correspondence (including e-mails), memos, and attorney invoices all contain…
Avoiding Problems with Contractors
In our many years representing community associations, we have seen a rash of disputes between associations and contractors. The problems fall in to a pattern, and always involve a lack of common understanding about what the association thought they were buying, and what the contractor thought they were to supply. Our recommendations for any contract…
Condominium Law Group Now Offers Educational Webinars
Condominium Law Group recently began offering a series of free webinars on a variety of topics relating to community associations and community association law. You can view our most recent webinar by clicking this link for the recording of the CLG webinar on Popular Amendments. You can also register to view upcoming webinars using the…
Good Policies Mean Good Collections: Making the Most of Delinquent Assessments
We recently had an article published in the May/June 2010 editions of the Community Associations Journal, published by the Washington State Community Associations Institute. The article discussed our belief that adopting, understanding, and consistently enforcing a clear collections policy can mean the difference between successfully collecting money owed to your association, or not. Please follow…
Condominium and Homeowner Association Boards: the Very Basics
Condominium and Homeowner Associations are governed by boards of directors, who generally have the power to make all decisions and take all actions on behalf of their associations. Much like a small government, the Board is elected by the members of the community. Beyond election of the board members, individual members of the community are…
