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RESOLVING DISPUTES IN A HOMEOWNERS' ASSOCIATION COMMUNITY
May 23, 2019 Posted in Community Association Law Share
During the course of a community’s administration, issues can arise between an individual homeowner and the governing board. The Association, represented by its Board of Directors or Trustees, may believe that the individual homeowner is not acting in accordance with the rules or restrictions set forth in the Association’s governing documents. The individual homeowner may feel that the Association’s Board of Directors has overreached the limit of its authority.
Community Associations are not required to Accommodate All “Emotional-Support” Animal-Related Requests
May 23, 2019 Posted in Community Association Law Share
One issue that has been plaguing community associations with pet restrictions in recent years is the increasing frequency of requests by unit owners seeking to keep emotional support animals in the community. While few Boards question the right of an individual to keep a service animal in their home when they truly need one, some Boards believe that individuals are making requests for “emotional support” animals in order to circumvent the governing documents.
NEW JERSEY PASSES FORECLOSURE REFORM BILLS AIMED TO ASSIST COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS WITH HOMES IN FORECLOSURE
May 3, 2019 Posted in Community Association Law Share
On April 29, 2019, New Jersey Governor Philip Murphy signed into law two new amendments that provide relief to community associations with homes in foreclosure. When a unit or a home in a community association is in foreclosure and does not pay assessments, it will ultimately be left for other owners in the community to pay them. Currently, the New Jersey Condominium Act allows condominium associations the right to collect up to 6 months of unpaid assessments when a condominium unit is foreclosed. The limited priority status of the lien allows the condominium association to collect the priority of its lien ahead of a mortgage lender and other lien holders.
FORECLOSURE REFORM IN NEW JERSEY
By May 2, 2019 Posted in Community Association Law Share
Two bills sit on Governor Murphy’s desk for signature that could alter the landscape of the current foreclosure process in New Jersey. Zombie Foreclosures are bank foreclosures on vacant units, which are stalled or delayed for years. Associations with units stuck in zombie foreclosures must deal with a lengthy foreclosure process. Associations have a strong interest in expediting these foreclosures because an abandoned unit does not pay maintenance fees. Associations lose less money when they expeditiously complete the foreclosure process.
Community Association Boards Can Make Bylaw Amendments Without Unit Owner Voting
April 29, 2019 Posted in Community Association Law Share
In New Jersey, and elsewhere, community associations often find themselves at odds with unit owners when attempting to amend their bylaws so as to improve the effectiveness of the community association. Fortunately, New Jersey law has recognized the challenges facing community association boards and has provided an opportunity to move forward without a majority of unit owners voting in favor of the amendment. These rules empower community association boards to act, ensuring that they can operate more dynamically to serve the interests of the people in their community.
New York Laws on Disclosure Requirements
By April 9, 2019 Posted in Community Association Law Share
New York law has been revised to require cooperative and condominium boards to disclose contracts or transactions in which it or its directors have an interest. The New York Legislature enacted these proposed revisions to the New York Business Law and the New York Not-for-Profit Corporation Law.
Do Community Association Pools Need Lifeguards?
April 9, 2019 Posted in Community Association Law Share
In New Jersey, community associations may not realize that the rules surrounding pool safety implementations are not the same as they used to be.
Dispute Resolution Between a Condo Association Board and a Unit Owner
March 7, 2019 Posted in Community Association Law Share
Condo associations often find themselves at odds with unit owners (and others) in a range of disputes, from fee/payment conflicts to repair concerns.
The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey Decides Case That Positively Impacts Amount Of Money A Condominium Association With A Properly Recorded Lien Is Entitled To Receive When a Unit Owner Files a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Petition.
March 5, 2019 Posted in Community Association Law Share
The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, in a matter captioned In Re Spradley, recently handed down a decision that positively impacts the amount of money a condominium association with a properly recorded lien is entitled to receive when a Unit Owner files a Chapter 13 petition in bankruptcy.
Implications for Pennsylvania Landlords, Homeowners Associations and their Residents under Pennsylvania's Assistance and Service Animal Integrity Act
February 20, 2019 Posted in Community Association Law, Landlord/Tenant Law Share
On October 24, 2018, the Pennsylvania State Legislature passed Act 118, known as the Assistance and Service Animal Integrity Act (“ASAIA”). This law, which went into effect on December 24, 2018, is aimed at preventing residents living in apartment building communities and homeowners associations from committing fraud in claiming that their pet is a service or assistance animal when in fact the residents do not have a disability, and keeping the animal would otherwise be a violation of their lease or homeowners association rules.