Category Archives: State Policy & Legislation

HOA, condo state laws change homeowner rights (Nov. 2019)

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By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities Debgoonan@icloud.com California provides increased protection against housing discrimination for military families; Florida considers bill to rein in power of CDDs to create new bond obligations for homeowners; Hawaii reverses course on condo owner protection from nonjudicial foreclosure.   California Housing providers cannot discriminate due to Veteran, military status SB 222 makes it a violation of civil rights to engage in housing discrimination based upon Veteran or military status, offering Continue ReadingHOA, condo state laws change homeowner rights (Nov. 2019)→

Pennsylvania HB 523 considers maintenance of private roads, without an HOA (Oct. 2019)

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By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities The Pennsylvania House recently tabled a bill that clarifies who will be responsible for maintenance of private roads. HB 523, as amended on September 24 (2019), attempts to sort out a person’s obligation to pay for maintenance of a shared private road. The reader may assume that all shared private roads and driveways are part of a common interest ownership community. In these communities, a homeowners, condominium, or cooperative Continue ReadingPennsylvania HB 523 considers maintenance of private roads, without an HOA (Oct. 2019)→

NJ Court: Lake Parsippany Easements obligate homeowners to pay POA fees

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By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities   On October 7, the Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris County, ruled that the Lake Parsippany tract of homes forms a common interest community, as defined by NJ statute. Furthermore, as Justice Stuart A. Minkowicz wrote in the court’s opinion, homeowners enjoy the benefits of living near the lake, as granted by easements in their property deeds. Attorneys for LPPOA conducted a search of 25 titles of homes Continue ReadingNJ Court: Lake Parsippany Easements obligate homeowners to pay POA fees→

California legislative updates: HOA election reform and more (Oct. 2019)

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By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities debgoonan@icloud.com It took two years, but this week, Governor Newsom signed an important HOA Election Reform bill that will change the HOA election process “by ensuring that HOA members are not disenfranchised,” according to Senator Bob Wieckowski [D-Fremont]. The new law makes several changes to the Davis Stirling Act, and applies to all common interest communities in the state of California. For starters, all association-governed communities are now required to Continue ReadingCalifornia legislative updates: HOA election reform and more (Oct. 2019)→