District of Columbia Council Member Anita Bonds (D-At Large), along with Council Members Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) and Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7), has introduced legislation that imposes new requirements on associations, beyond that which they are already mandated to do under the current condominium law, before they can foreclose on…
I get calls from unit owners all of the time clamoring about why their condo association is still attempting to collect unpaid assessments from them AFTER they file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. There are a few considerations unit owners must keep in mind. First, if your condo association has filed…
The vast majority of my condo clientele have major clashes over enforcing rules. After I have done an investigation into the particular situation that has tempers flaring, I find this common scenario: a problem has arisen that affects that quality of life for certain members in the Association; the Board…
The District of Columbia and 21 states have statutes that give condominium associations a super-priority over the first deed of trust for unpaid assessments. In D.C., the super-priority is limited to six months of unpaid assessments. Thus, a condominium association has the right to foreclose on a condominium lien and…
Winter is becoming more brutal in various parts of the country. If Association do not prepare before the worst of winter’s weather hits, they will be overwhelmed with daily issues. Here are a few tips that will help your community prepare for the worst. Designate Areas for Snow Removal before…
Condo foreclosures have become more attractive in D.C. since the D.C. Court of Appeals’ recent ruling in Chase Plaza Condominium Association vs. JP Morgan Chase Bank. The Court of Appeals ruled that if an Association forecloses on its super-priority lien and there are not enough proceeds from the sale to…
What do pet owners, homeowners associations and landlords all have in common? They may be held liable for injuries caused by an animal attack on any premises deemed to be under their control. Under common law, domestic animals such as dogs and cats are regarded as not inherently dangerous pets….
All homeowner’s associations have to deal with owners who don’t pay dues. Even those with fairly low delinquencies will have a few owners that constantly fall behind. However, when owners stop paying the Association’s operational funds decrease while the operational expenses stay the same or increase. This puts HOAs in…
At long last, the Council has unanimously voted to approve proposed amendments to D.C.’s condo law. The law, originally known as The Condominium Act of 1976, has now been amended to incorporate many important changes of which Associations and Boards should be made aware. The Mayor signed the bill into…
Council member Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) introduced legislation last month that establishes new requirements for condominium associations before they can foreclose on unit owners who are delinquent on their monthly assessments. This bill, co-sponsored by council member Kenyan McDuffie (D- Ward 5), creates several new requirements for Associations including (1)…