Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Governor signs bills protecting members of homeowner associations
Fred Pilot passed this along. A big event in the Golden State...

Homeowner associations will be required to use secret ballots when electing board members or imposing levy increases, under a bill signed Monday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The bill, authored by Sen. Jim Battin, R-Palm Desert, stemmed from complaints from homeowners who said some associations require identification in elections that can lead to unwanted lobbying or even intimidation by fellow members. Homeowner associations will be required to make financial and other important records available to members under legislation from Assemblyman Dave Jones, D-Sacramento, that was also signed by the governor. Finally, the governor signed a bill from Sen. Denise Ducheny, D-San Diego, that prevents homeowners' associations from using foreclosure when a homeowner owes less than $1,800 in assessments.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

It would be helpful to know what lobbying concerning these bills was done by the community associations industry and their trade association, Community Associations Institute.

These groups should have an interest in well-managed owners associations, and accordingly should have supported the bills.

Anonymous said...

I believe the original bill specified no foreclosure on less than $2,500 in back dues.

It seems to me that the HOA industry vultures managed to get that talked down to $1,800. In some associations, that's about 3 months of dues. (Dues of over $500/month are not unheard of in California.)