Archives: Model Tools

The clause you include in your contract should say that if a project takes longer to complete than the contractor estimated, the contractor must pay the community association any damages that the delay causes. These damages will include out-of-pocket costs, consequential damages, and any other damages the association can prove. Talk to your attorney about…

To make sure your association has enough funds to deal with its long-range maintenance needs, set a policy governing a reserve account. Show the following model policy to your attorney before taking steps to adopt it as a bylaw to your governing documents.

Require a member to do at least three things in order to make a request for access to your association’s records. You can use this form at your community after showing it to your attorney, who might decide that additional information is wise to collect.

You can adapt this Model Notice to inform members that the board will be enforcing previously overlooked rules. The notice stresses the importance of community rules. It’s important that your letter, like ours, tells members the specific plans you have for reviving rules, such as giving members a grace period in certain circumstances. Show this…

You can give this sexual harassment complaint procedure, based on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s guidelines, to your employees. The procedure encourages employees who are victims of harassment to complain, asks employees who observe harassment to report it, gives harassed employees a choice of accessible individuals to whom they can complain, says that any…

Ask your attorney about improving your association’s records-management policy by adapting the following five points for your specific needs.

This collection policy will help members understand the consequences of late payments and show them that you intend to apply your collection policy uniformly, fairly, and consistently. Show the policy to your association’s attorney before adopting it. (State law and your governing documents may require changes and deletions.)

This Model Policy requires members to ensure that their required detectors are operable at all times. Also, it contains optional language that you can use if your governing documents allow you to fine members who don’t comply with community policies.

This resolution can be used as a template to temporarily suspend enforcement of a rule, community-wide (here, the exception refers to seasonal door decorations). The resolution includes a “sunset provision” saying that the exception will expire if it’s not renewed by a specified date. For suspensions for items that are season-specific, carefully think about the…

Adapt the following letter to send to the members of your community you wish to survey. The letter conveys the importance of members' participation and explains how they will be able to access the survey’s findings.