In the perennial struggle to control costs while still adequately maintaining a building or HOA’s physical plant, grounds, and other day-to-day business, some boards and managers are opting to hire superintendents, custodians, and other sta…
Another year is behind us, and what a year it was! While 2017 and beyond promise to be eventful in myriad ways, it probably makes sense to focus solely on what’s ahead in the world of condominiums, cooperatives and homeowners’ associations …
The Cooperator Expo Chicagoland returned to the Navy Pier Convention Center on November 15, 2016, bringing more than 2,000 people to meet and learn from the nearly 300 exhibitors lining the aisles, manning the free advice booths, and leadin…
Q. Can a member of the association sue his board of directors if the board does not force a landlord to keep up the maintenance of his units? —Irritated in Itasca A“The short answer to this question is ‘…
Q. I live in a 96-unit condominium building and have served on the board of our association for 16 years. There are nine of us on the board, seven of whom including myself are at the age where some owners younger than we are should be thi…
Q. At a regular monthly meeting of a seven-member HOA board where members present constitute a quorum, can one of the absent members give her proxy to one of the four attending members to vote on specific issues on the board’s agenda? …
Secure. The word has many meanings. According to Google definitions, it can mean “to fix or attach something to something else. It can mean to protect against threats or make safe. Or it can mean to feel free from fear or anxiety.” Per…
Some days it rains, some days it pours – and some days, there’s a Category 4 hurricane. And while the latter is relatively rare, it can be a true disaster, and any condominium, co-op or homeowner’s association worth its salt should be prepa…
Everyone is right to be concerned with the safety of their communities, whether they live in an area highly susceptible to crime or a sleepy Mayberry-esque hamlet. Condominiums, cooperatives, and homeowners’ associations are no exception; i…
Q. Can a condominium association change the unit owner’s right to lease his or her unit? —Last but Not Leased A. “A unit owner enjoys an inherent right to lease his or her unit—subject to recorded covenants t…