Molly Foley-Healy

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The Chicago Tribune recently reported on a story where a woman suffering from panic attacks has brought a lawsuit against her condominium association for violation of federal law. While the story wasn’t clear on exactly what federal law she is claiming the association violated, there’s no doubt that the federal Fair Housing Act (“FHA”) is at issue.

Mary Jo Stevens requested, and was granted, an accommodation to keep her toy spaniel (named "Boo") which she describes as her “psychiatric service” animal to assist in the prevention of frequent panic attacks. The Association, which has a strict “no pet policy,” has permitted her to keep Boo with the following restrictions: (1) Boo is required to be kept in a pet carrier while in the lobby and laundry rooms; and (2) Ms. Stevens must use a service elevator and side doors as she comes and goes with Boo. Continue Reading Lawsuit Against Condo Highlights Complexity of FHA & Assistance Animals

During the 2010 legislative session, House Bill 10-1403 (“HB 1403”) was signed into law by Governor Ritter. The purpose of HB 1403 was to enable the Colorado Secretary of State (“SOS”) to reduce the costs of operations through phasing out postcard notifications and permitting corporations, including nonprofit corporations like homeowners’ associations (“HOAs”), to elect to file …

Whenever you bring two or more people together, there’s always the potential for conflict. Add to this equation a homeowners’ association (“HOA”), assessment delinquencies, foreclosures, financially strapped homeowners and a board facing tough economic decisions that could result in an assessment increase or even the dreaded special assessment. Obviously, under these conditions the potential for destructive conflict escalates through the roof. 

If these challenges existed in your HOA, how would the board and homeowners handle it? Would your association come together as a community or turn into a combat zone? It’s up to everyone in the community to decide.Continue Reading Is Your HOA a Community or Combat Zone?

The Senate Committee on Local Government (“Committee”) today considered House Bill 11-1124 (“HB 1124”) which addresses conflicts of interest for individuals serving on the board of their homeowners’ association (“HOA”) and on special district boards. 

The bill was passed unanimously by the Committee with a favorable recommendation to the full Senate.  In addition, the Committee is recommending that the bill be placed on the Senate Consent Calendar. We expect the Senate will approve HB 1124 which currently contains the following provisions:Continue Reading Conflict of Interest Bill Clears Senate Committee on Local Government

For the purpose of obtaining FHA approval of a condominium project, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") has just announced a waiver on some leasing restrictions in condominium projects.  This waiver will be in effect for a period of one year. 

As you know, when a condominium project applies to HUD for approval for FHA-backed loans, one of the requirements is that at least 50% of the units must be owner-occupied. That means an association must be able to control the rental of units in the project. An obvious way that associations handle this is through rental restrictions contained in the governing documents of the association. Continue Reading HUD Relaxes Leasing Restrictions for FHA Approval of Condominium Projects

As noted in our March 1st blog posting, Representative Libby Szabo introduced House Bill 11-1116 (“HB 1116”) in the Colorado House which would regulate the ability of local governments to require citizens to pay for and utilize residential waste services provided for by the municipality in which they live.

Yesterday an amended version of HB 1116 was considered by the full House which provided that local governments (after the effective date of the new law) that plan to require citizens to pay for and utilize their residential waste services – must first provide the electorate with an opportunity to vote on whether the local government may take such action. Continue Reading HOA Inquiry Stalls Trash Bill on Floor of the Colorado House

Okay so I admit it – I happen to think garden gnomes are cute as a bug’s ear! Surely my neighbors in the culdesac feel the same way. Maybe if we band together we can create a colony of gnomes in the HOA with a leprechaun or two thrown in for good measure. How cool would that be?! 

If you live in an HOA and have the compulsion to start a garden gnome colony or plan to make improvements to your landscape, home, or lot – here are things you need to know before you get started:Continue Reading Garden Gnome Alert: It Feels Like Spring!

Americans with Disabilities Act and Service Animals

 

Tomorrow changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) will go into effect. One of the most widely publicized of these changes relates to “service animals.”

 

In a Fact Sheet published by the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”), the DOJ describes the changes to the new rule relating to service animals as follows: “The rule defines “service animal” as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. The rule states that other animals, whether wild or domestic, do not qualify as service animals. Dogs that are not trained to perform tasks that mitigate the effects of a disability, including dogs that are used purely for emotional support, are not service animals. The final rule also clarifies that individuals with mental disabilities who use service animals that are trained to perform a specific task are protected by the ADA. . .”Continue Reading Service Animals, Assistance Animals, the ADA and FHA – What does it all mean for HOAs?

Founded in 1993, the Golden Triangle Association (“GTA”) in Denver is all about neighborhood activism and building community. Members of the GTA include individuals, households, HOAs, businesses and organizations committed to promoting shared values in the Golden Triangle. 

Among many other things, the GTA is involved in community activism on issues relating to zoning and signage…

Okay – so it has really felt like the 2011 legislative session in Colorado for HOAs has been pretty darn busy. We have battled over the assignment of junior lien rights, engaged in lengthy and sometimes intense negotiations on the superlien, reworked legislation affecting the governance of associations and the session is only half over. However, recent drama in Nevada has put our 2011 legislative session into perspective.

In addition to the federal investigation in Nevada of an alleged conspiracy targeting HOAs that we reported on in our March 7th blog posting, Senator Michael Schneider has introduced an omnibus bill in the Nevada Legislature he has dubbed “Sex, drugs and money: Why HOAs don’t work.” The bill is a whopping 43 pages long and addresses everything from regulating transfer fees to prohibiting HOAs from using radar guns to regulating the composition of HOA boards.Continue Reading High Drama in Nevada Over HOA Omnibus Bill