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Encountering Wildlife in Your Community? Tactics to Mitigate the Issue

It’s not only Florida associations with alligators or California communities with mountain lions that can run into wildlife issues. Suburbs across the country are seeing coyotes and other unwelcome visitors. Managers have been recently reporting more wildlife sightings and episodes than in the past. “We live near the forest, so we normally deal with deer…

Where the Wild Things Are (Increasingly, in HOAs!)

It’s not only Florida associations with alligators or California communities with mountain lions that can run into wildlife issues. Suburbs across the country are seeing coyotes and other unwelcome visitors. What can your clients do about it? Increasing Interaction with Animals Managers have been recently reporting more wildlife sightings and episodes than in the past.…

Help Your Association Clients Avoid a Racial Discrimination Lawsuit

A federal court of appeals is allowing a Black couple to sue their HOA neighbors for racial discrimination under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). While it blocked the couple’s claims against the association, the opinion suggests that decision was due primarily to a technicality. Tonca and Terence Watters chose to build their dream home in…

HOA Escapes Racial Discrimination Lawsuit — But Harassers Don’t

A federal court of appeals is allowing a Black couple to sue their HOA neighbors for racial discrimination under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). While it blocked the couple’s claims against the association, the opinion suggests that decision was due primarily to a technicality. (Watters v. Homeowners Ass’n at the Preserve*). In other words, it’s…

HOA Manager Safety: A Renewed Spotlight in the Wake of Recent Tragedy

The August 2022 murder of an Atlanta association manager has drawn renewed attention to the physical risks managers face on the job in today’s world and an increasing need to address HOA manager safety. Word of the Atlanta slaying spread quickly among those in the industry. Amid the expressions of sympathy and concern, though, was…

Manager’s Killing Heightens Safety Concerns

The August 2022 murder of an Atlanta association manager has drawn renewed attention to the physical risks managers face on the job in today’s world. “I think this is an industry problem across the board,” says Katie Anderson, CEO of Aperion Management Group LLC, which manages around 65 associations in central Oregon. “It’s been perpetuated…

The Need for HOA Anti-Harassment Policies is Up for Debate

Our sister publication, HOAleader.com, recently reported that one of its readers was informed by a potential directors and officers liability insurer that their association would need to have an anti-harassment policy to obtain coverage. The reader stated, “We didn’t want to be involved in the policing-how-neighbors-treat-each-other business, but we have to, it turns out.” Is…

Do Your Association Clients Need Anti-Harassment Policies?

Our sister publication, HOAleader.com, recently reported that one of its readers was informed by a potential directors and officers liability insurer that their association would need to have an anti-harassment policy to obtain coverage. The reader stated, “We didn’t want to be involved in the policing-how-neighbors-treat-each-other business, but we have to, it turns out.” Is…

Owner Gambles and Loses with Building Unapproved Outdoor Wall

A recent court ruling in California provides some useful guidance on how you and your clients can deal with those owners who just won’t take no for an answer when it comes to architectural guidelines (Orangecrest Country Community Ass’n v. Burns*). “It’s a very empowering decision,” says Sandra Gottlieb, a founding partner of California community…

The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit: Find Out if Your Management Firm Qualifies

Health insurance coverage is a critical part of employee recruitment and retention. But it can also seem cost-prohibitive for some community association management firms. “We’re still in the ‘employee’ market, where candidates have the upper hand,” says Jamie Dokovna, a shareholder in the Florida law firm Becker & Poliakoff who practices employment law and works…