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We are the advocates on whom home owners associations (HOAs) and real estate owners rely when they have legal concerns. We are Bender Anderson and Barba, P.C.
By: Barbara G. Hager In your life as a Board member you have probably heard something like this from an unhappy unit owner: “You work for me! You owe me a duty to do what is best for me!” Well, no. None of that is true and here’s why. As a Board member, your first...
By: Kristie Leff Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes Section 47-255, associations are obligated to maintain the following insurance coverage: Property insurance on the common elements, and on the units in the case of buildings with units having horizontal...
By: Barbara G. Hager Many older associations are finding they need to borrow money for major upgrade or replacement projects, such as for roofs, windows, and paving. The Board of Directors will usually start this by speaking with a banker, which is the logical first...
By: Andrea Dunn Pete Problem lives next door to Suzie Sensitive in the Life is Beautiful Condominium community. Pete and Suzie do not get along and each sends emails to the property manager daily with complaints about the other. Some concern rule violations such as...
By: Ronald J. Barba Personal liability for board members is always a concern. The CIOA requires associations to purchase property insurance, flood insurance (when applicable), commercial general liability insurance and fidelity insurance, but it is silent on the...
By: Barbara G. Hager At Unit Owners meetings, it sometimes happens that there is either not a quorum, or, even if a quorum is present, not enough votes to vote on a particular matter. Some matters require a certain percentage of all unit owners (for example,...
By: Kristie Leff With the growing popularity of emotional support animals, condominium associations are increasing forced to confront the issue of whether or not to permit emotional support animals to reside in units at associations that do not allow pets. Emotional...
By: Andrea Dunn The hearing date is set. Felix has been notified and the Board has done everything right. What’s next? The hearing. Many board members are not fond of the hearing. It is unknown what is going to be said, what evidence is going to be presented and,...
By: Andrea Dunn The Association has the power to fine a unit owner for violating the rules. So, it’s okay to send a note telling them and adding the fine to their account? NO. NO. NO. To quote a phrase from the movie, Mr. Mom, “You’re doing it Wrong”. Doing it...
By: Barbara G. Hager In Connecticut, common interest communities, especially cooperatives and condominiums, often have very limited space allocated to parking. Many complexes were built in the early 1980’s and it seems they did not plan for each unit to have two,...