In community association settings, especially at open meetings of the board or when responding to emails, we must be careful what is said. 

Comments or statements made by board members or the community association manager may not only be used against the individual making the remarks, but also against the association.

Recent Illinois case law reminds us of the potential liability to a community association when too much is said in an open board meeting. 

Learn more here. 

A recent survey by the Community Associations Institute’s Foundation for Community Research reported that 91% of community association managers and HOA board members saw unexpected increases in operating expenses due to inflation.

When asked how community association managers and HOA board members plan to address unexpected operating expenses, 73% of respondents reported that they plan to raise HOA assessments, 41% plan to reduce expenses, and 15% plan to lower their reserve funding contributions. 

Condo and homeowners associations that are feeling the pinch due to inflation may consider resorting to AI searches, such as ChatGPT for legal advice, instead of the HOA attorney.  

But, is Chat GPT qualified to provide legal advice to a Condo or HOA? Find out here.

Property owners all over Chicago are seeing increases in their property tax bills. Your property assessment determines your tax bill. When a tax appeal is done, you are actually appealing your property's assessed valuation, not the tax directly.

All owners should consider appealing this assessment to lower property taxes, but if you live in a condo, townhouse or homeowner association, you should consider filing your tax appeal as a group.

Below are 5 of the most commonly asked questions about group appeals and the property tax appeal process.

1. What is a group appeal?

2. Why would/should you appeal as a group?

3. Will an appeal lower tax bills?

4. How do appeals work?

5. Does the association need to hire an attorney?

For answers to these questions, click here.

Assistance animals play an important role in the lives of people with disabilities. The federal Fair Housing Act (FHA), the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as state and local laws govern assistance animals in community associations.

Community associations must recognize the rights of individuals with disabilities to receive the assistance they need within their home and must comply with federal laws guaranteeing such rights.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released clarification earlier this year related to documentation from the internet, observable versus nonobservable disabilities, and types of animals that may qualify as assistance animals. Check out those resources here:

Documentation from the internet: Page 11 of January 2020 Guidance

Type of Animal: Page 13 of January 2020 Guidance

Observable and Nonobservable Disabilities: Page 9 of January 2020 Guidance

Condominium associations are often the unfortunate targets of fraud. Assocation bank accounts often hold enticingly large sums of money, and without proper oversight that money can be suddenly or slowly drained by individuals with access.

At Haus Financial Services, we know that a lack of transparency can be a major red flag, indicating possible fraud. Our services are designed with the goal of high transparency between our company and the board, and the board and the owners. 

To learn about other red flags that may indicate a risk of fraud and ways to protect your association, see this article from Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit.