Question: Some communicated we may no longer institute an adult only swim because it discriminates by age. Is that true? Answer: Yes, that is true. In addition to requiring a reasonable accommodation in rules, policies, practices or services to afford a person with a...
Condominiums & Cooperatives
QUESTION/ANSWER BY: JOHN H. GETTINGER, ESQ.
Question: A resident is claiming the Association does not own the airspace above your Association. He claims as long as the drone does not take off from common property we have no authority over its use. Therefore, he can fly the drone from within his unit's backyard,...
QUESTION/ANSWER BY JOHN H. GETTINGER, ESQ.
Question: We're an Association of attached town homes. We (the Board) want to pass that, to become and remain a Board Member, homeowners cannot be delinquent on their association dues 2 or more times within 12 consecutive months. Some of our Board believes this would...
QUESTION/ANSWER BY JOHN H. GETTINGER, ESQ.
Question: Please help me interpret this: subject to any limitations imposed by law, by these amended Articles of Incorporation or by the Declaration, the board of director is hereby authorized to exercise, all the power of the Corp. w/o prior authorization or...
QUESTION/ANSWER BY: JOHN H. GETTINGER, ESQ.
Question: When an HOA meeting has been called to vote on amending something in our CC & R's, or when this vote is part of an annual meeting, and the required percentage of homeowners needed to make a change is not obtained, can votes be acquired after the meeting...
QUESTION/ANSWER BY: JOHN H. GETTINGER, ESQ.
Question: Can we allow a renter to serve on the board? Answer: You need to review the qualification of directors section of association's by-laws. Some by-laws specifically require that a director must be an owner of a home. If your association has such a...
QUESTION/ANSWER BY: JOHN H. GETTINGER, ESQ.
Question: I own 2 units in a building that is 15 units. Prior to purchasing my unit, I was on the board and I had one vote. Now that I own 2 units and I am on the board, can I have 2 votes? (Assuming it is not restricted by the by-laws). Answer: No. A member of the...
QUESTION/ANSWER BY: JOHN H. GETTINGER, ESQ.
Question: If a HOA Board conducts a meeting and there are no minutes published and/or agenda for a required second meeting, is anything voted on at the second meeting considered null and void because proper meeting protocol was not followed? Should a H0A provide any...
QUESTION/ANSWER BY: JOHN H. GETTINGER, ESQ.
Question: Do statutes prohibit charging late fees and/or interest on unpaid fines in a homeowners association or condo? Answer: No - there are no statutes in the State of New York which prohibit a board from charging homeowners late fees and/or interest on unpaid...
QUESTION/ANSWER BY: JOHN H. GETTINGER, ESQ.
Question: Covenants are contracts which create enforceable restrictions on the use of property within the community. Can the Board change the covenants without notifying the homeowners either before or after they decide? Answer: You are correct that covenants are...