Month: April 2017
Protect Association’s Interests from Bankrupt Member
With almost 800,000 bankruptcy filings in 2016 alone, chances are that someone living in your community will declare bankruptcy at some point. So, what does that mean for you and your association? When a person files for a bankruptcy, the court immediately issues an “automatic stay.” This is a big protection of bankruptcy because the automatic stay prohibits any creditor or individual from attempting to collect on a debt or take any action to collect that debt as of the date of the bankruptcy.
Put Maintenance Staff on Alert for Drug Operations
If one of your management staff members suspects that a homeowner in your planned community is manufacturing illegal drugs, you’ll need to get a handle on the situation as soon as possible.
Association Prevails on Retaliation Claim
Associations often make the news for incidents that reflect poorly on them, or that end in liability. But not every lawsuit against an association is a cautionary tale for a manager and board of directors. A recent New Mexico case highlights what often happens when a litigious member brings a frivolous claim.
Take Proper Steps When a Member Declares Bankruptcy
By Andrea Brescia
With almost 800,000 bankruptcy filings in 2016 alone, chances are that someone living in your community will declare bankruptcy at some point. And the likelihood grows if your association is in the South, where the highest numbers of bankruptcies are recorded. With one filing, the member living in your community goes by the new name of “debtor” on official documents. And just like that, the way you deal with this member must shift dramatically.
Use Social Media to Reach—and Listen to—Your Community
By Andrea Brescia
More and more Americans are getting—and sending—their information through social media in real time: from politics and breaking news to sharing family photos and learning about events. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter are the favored community forums for staying in the know. Facebook pages, Twitter streams, and even community-designed apps are popping up all over homeowners associations—sometimes both officially and unofficially.
Do Community’s Rules Discriminate Against Families with Children?
FACTS: A couple filed a fair housing case, alleging discrimination based on familial status at the condominium community where they lived with their two minor children. The couple claimed that the condo association and its management company created an “atmosphere of hostility” against families with children.