Q. Can a condo association that does not follow its bylaws as registered with the state of Rhode Island have the power to enforce its rules and regulations and fine a unit owner? — Law-Abiding Owner A. “The Rhode Island Condo…
Q. Can a current board member advertise his re-election, or go around knocking on each door and telling owners who to vote for? Is this legal? —Feeling Pressured A. “The short answer to this question is: yes, it is leg…
Q. My condo association has five board members. The term of service is three years, which is clearly stated in our governing docs. Our association was to have an election in November 2020, for three seats. Their three-year terms were endi…
Q. I have lived in my condo for more than a decade, and every winter, I (and a couple of other owners) have fed the birds with no problems. Watching the birds has been a comfort to me, especially this year with so many other activities li…
Q. I was a condominium board member of a 60-unit condominium association for four years. During that time, I kept copies of everything regarding incidents, meeting minutes, emails, anything that I submitted, contracts that I worked on, …
Q. Is an association required to maintain a recording of a meeting as an official record? — Confused Board Member A. “One way in which the COVID-19 pandemic has affected associations is that in most cases it has made …
Q. I am a member of the board at an 84-unit condo development. One of our biggest complaints is the issue of dogs and where they defecate. Everyone in the community seems to think that their dog is special and does not have to use the de…
Q. I own a condo in a nice community, but I plan to move next spring because I can’t deal with this situation. The unit below mine is owned by a young woman who often smokes cannabis with her boyfriend. She says she has proof that she is…
Q. I pay HOA fees for landscaping. Not all areas of the development are the same—some streets just have ornamental trees and a minimal amount of leaves falling. My block is swamped with leaves on the ground that begin falling in September…
Q. Some of the homeowners in our association participate in discussions on a “neighborhood” social media site that is not controlled by our association. Most of the posts I’ve seen are friendly, but of course there’s a fair number that ar…