Excerpt from AssociationHelpNow™ Condo/HOA Primer by Raymond Dickey
Author Note: With hurricane season on the horizon, we thought this chapter from my book would be useful to our readers.
What happens when a property damage disaster occurs in an association? What steps need to be taken at the time of the disaster and afterwards in order to restore the property to its pre-disaster condition? Who is responsible for taking the necessary actions, the residents or the association? We spoke with Tom Licciardi of Accurate Reconstruction in Somerville, New Jersey to answer these questions.
You own a 300-unit condominium and you want to inspect your building’s façade in the most efficient way. You’ve heard drones can be a great resource, but you don’t know what to look for when hiring a drone pilot. How can an association ensure they are hiring both a licensed and insured professional, as well as a company with the expertise to interpret data?
It’s one of everyone’s favorite places in the community – the clubhouse. It’s used by the association for residents to enjoy an afternoon mah-jongg game, cards, community-organized special events and more. These spaces are usually bright and airy, spacious, well-decorated and set up to host events large and small. For this reason, some associations decide to rent their clubhouses out for weddings and other private functions. However, associations need to be aware of the potential liability exposure opened up by doing this. We spoke with Robert Travis of Community Association Underwriters of America (CAU) in Newtown, Pennsylvania, who explained that liability issues are complex when a community clubhouse is rented out to a resident or third-party. He gave us some tips to prevent clubhouse rental engagements from ending on a sour note.
Unfortunately, board members of community associations are sometimes loathed by some residents. Issues can arise at any time, especially during board elections. When insults and accusations fly, they sometimes cause serious damage to the reputations of those on the receiving end. In some cases, board members go on to sue owners or residents for defamation. But, what exactly constitutes as defamation? We spoke to Attorney Robert C. Griffin of Griffin Alexander, PC in Randolph, New Jersey to shed some light on this topic.
Does your community require a major repair, such as new facade, windows or roofs? Major repairs can be extremely costly. Luckily, loans are available for community associations that require funds for a particular project or repair. We spoke to Jared Tunnell, Senior Vice President at National Cooperative Bank to learn more about community association loans and what steps condominium and homeowner associations should take before acquiring a loan.
