2009 June
2009 June Vol. 7, No. 6
Focus on...Law & Legislation
Who Rules the Roost?
Most of the time, condo and HOA residents live in harmony with (or in relative ignorance of) their association’s rules and regulations. It’s not until conflict arises that people begin to examine and familiarize themselves with the laws of the land, so to speak, and sometimes board members and managers are as in-the-dark as unit owners about the rights and responsibilities of residents. Read More
Legislative Happenings in Trenton and Washington
Nearly every day, pieces of legislation are introduced, debated, or voted on—both in Trenton and in Washington—that impact the administration of New Jersey’s HOAs. Keeping track of what passes into law (and then must be complied with) is a big job for property managers and their boards, but it’s important to stay abreast of changes in the law and to be aware of legislation on the horizon or poised to be put into action. Read More
Dealing with the Realities of the Recession
Consider the (fictional) couple, Mr. and Mrs. Smith. They love their co-op apartment in a comfortable, convenient neighborhood in Hoboken, and have lived there for the last seven years, moving in when Mr. Smith took an editing job with a prestigious magazine across the river in Manhattan. He was making a great salary, and Mrs. Smith was enjoying her new career as an elementary school teacher. When the economy took a hit last year however, Mr. Smith’s magazine took a major hit—advertisers bailed, and the magazine was forced to eliminate his position. Mr. Smith has had a hard time finding a job ever since, and Mrs. Smith’s salary isn’t enough to make ends meet. The couple has been struggling—and they’ve missed several maintenance payments. Read More
Balancing Community Rules with Individual Rights
When you live in a community association, you must abide by the rules that have been set. After all, condominiums are like little municipal governments; they collect fees, maintain the commonly-owned properties and set and enforce rules. But what if those rules conflict with state or federal laws, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, or the right to freedom of speech? Read More
Checking Credentials, Covering Bases
Those who handle the management of any kind of residential building deal with contractors and contracts regularly—but they aren’t the only ones who should know about the process. It’s not necessarily an arcane topic—whether the project is a major roof repair or an association-wide window replacement, the construction process is usually pretty much the same. Read More
New Jersey is Getting on Board
The state of New Jersey licenses or certifies practitioners of a wide range of professions, from doctors and plumbers to beauticians and irrigation contractors. Is the management of community associations a profession that requires licensure? Read More
Celebrating a Community's Revival
If you’re looking for a parable for the indomitable spirit of America, the story of Red Bank fits the bill. This now thriving New Jersey borough has a rich—but not always rosy—past. Read More
Q&A: What is Super's Compensation
My question concerns the various forms of compensation our building’s super receives and the shareholders’ right to know the exact sum of his monthly income, as an exact cost to the building. Our super has a fixed salary, which is disclosed to the shareholders in the yearly financial statement. However, there are several other extras that have never been calculated, such as: a free apartment, a free inside parking space, a free land line, cell phone services and free electricity. The electricity bill covered includes his apartment a private washer and dryer (given to him by the co-op) and a huge, second refrigerator. The washing machine, dryer, and second refrigerator are kept in a storage space, and this electricity bill is paid by the corporation. Read More
Q&A: Building Owner Incarcerated for Mortgage Fraud
I live in a 28-building garden apartment complex with 56 units per building—some of which are rent stabilized, others of which were sold as condos. The owner of the complex is now in jail in connection with his company’s fraudulent mortgage activities. Tenants are now receiving foreclosure threats and eviction notices. How can we protect ourselves? Will banks evict residents based on the building owner’s illegal activities? Read More
