HOA Management Blog

As an HOA board member, it's important to understand the roles and responsibilities of those in charge of setting up the rules in your community. The primary individuals responsible for this task are the board of directors, also known as the board of trustees or board of managers.

The board of directors is elected by the members of the HOA and is responsible for making decisions on behalf of the community. This includes setting rules and regulations for the community, as well as enforcing those rules. The board also sets the budget for the community, manages the finances, and oversees the maintenance and upkeep of common areas.

Living in any community means there are rules to follow. The police enforce the law by writing tickets, issuing warrants, or making arrests. Schools enforce policies for students by taking away recess, sending them to speak with the principal, or giving extra tasks to do. There are also rules when you live in a homeowners association. How strict or lenient these HOA rules can be is unique to each association, but there’s one thing all HOAs should have in common: enforcement of the rules.

‘Tis the season for holiday shopping and people love the convenience of ordering online. Avoiding the crowds and shopping from the comfort of your couch is an easy and appealing way to save time and get your gifts ordered all in one place. Whether you’re having your items shipped to your house or sent directly to the recipient, this day and age homeowners need to be on the lookout for individuals who steal packages from properties - also known as "porch pirates."

One of the hottest topics when it comes to HOA rules has to do with displaying the American flag. Typically, the issue isn’t whether the flag can be displayed – your right to display the American flag is protected by Federal law – but rather how the flag is being displayed. And it’s this issue that has a homeowner in Alabama determined to keep her flagpole in the ground. Check out the following news story.

Are your HOA board members able to handle the load of managing your homeowners association, or do you need a professional? This is a great question to be asking and there are a few factors to consider. If your board can handle some of the responsibilities but doesn’t want to take on all that needs to be managed and get done, then you may consider splitting the work between your volunteers and outside professionals.

Does your HOA board deal with noise disturbance complaints from members? Noise is an inevitable reality in a condominium homeowners association. Condominium dwellers live in such close proximity, it’s essential that all residents consider the effect that noise will have on their neighbors – especially when it comes to long-term considerations, such as deciding on floor coverings, where to mount the flat-screen television or when to knock out a wall. 

An HOA board may get pushback from members in the association when it comes to rule violations. Members will get a violation letter and they'll respond back with, "How come I'm getting a violation letter when my neighbor is doing the exact same thing? You're not treating everyone the same?"

First, the member may not know that their neighbor is also receiving violation letters, but regardless, in an HOA everyone should be held to the same level of the rules and accountable to follow them. People shouldn’t be treated differently within the association. This is known as selective enforcement.

Each Association is unique, but more often than not your Association has at some point in the past – or will in the future – experience questions similar to the real-life issues addressed below. Continue reading to see if any of these real-life questions and expert answers from an HOA manager apply to your Association.

A common question asked among residents in a homeowners association is, how many board members should an association have? The answer is that it really depends on what the association's governing documents state. Typically, the number of HOA board members an association should have is found in the bylaws of the association. But in general, you should have a three- or five-member board of directors. Some have more, depending on the size of the association. A good starting place is to consult your bylaws.

An HOA board of directors has a fiduciary responsibility to the association. They're tasked with upholding the governing documents and the rules of the association. There's also the business judgment rule that says if the board receives expert advice on a topic, and they follow that expert advice, it provides them with a level of protection if there's a lawsuit against the board or the association.