In the Spring of 2011, we blogged about Homeowners Associations and Condominium Associations that own swimming pools, wading pools, or spas. The issue we addressed was whether your Association needed to be aware of new requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). The Justice Department had issued new ADA Standards for Accessible Design, which include mandates for removing barriers to access to pools and spas. We suggested that if your HOA or Condo Association allows non-members of the association to use its pool in exchange for some form of compensation, your pool may fall under the definition of a public accommodation. If it does, the association would have to comply with the new ADA Standards and provide accessible entry and exits no later than March 15, 2012.

The March 15, 2012 deadline has come and gone, but Attorney General Eric Holder signed a rule that extended the deadline for a period of 60 days after publication of the rule in the Federal Register.  A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) was also filed on March 15, 2012, which proposes a 180-day extension of the compliance deadline. This blog post discusses what these delays mean for your HOA or Condo.

Continue reading “ADA Compliance – Update on HOAs, Condos and Swimming Pools”

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It’s that time of year again to schedule your attendance at the Homestead for The Virginia Leadership Retreat. This event has become a favorite for Virginia community association attorneys, management companies, and business partners.  The VLR is a very popular seminar sponsored by Central Virginia Community Association Institute, Southeastern Virginia Community Association Institute, and Washington Metropolitan Community Association Institute. Here are some photos from last year’s event.

Continue reading “Virginia Leadership Retreat at The Homestead – 2012”

My first year on the Community Associations Institute Virginia Legislative Action Committee (“VALAC”) was a great learning experience. The education on how our legislature works was, well, interesting. The greater educational moment came in watching the members of the VALAC volunteer for innumerable hours towards the betterment of the community association industry. Here are some of the changes in Virginia law for HOAs: Continue reading “New Legislation will change the operations of your Virginia Condominium Associations and Homeowner Associations”

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Spring time is around the corner and the community pools will ready for the summer season. Homeowners Associations and Condominium Associations that own swimming pools, wading pools, or spas need to be aware of new requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). In July, 2010, the Justice Department issued new ADA Standards for Accessible Design, which include mandates for removing barriers to access to pools and spas. These new Standards apply to any private entity that operates a “place of public accommodation,” which may include an association. If an association limits use of its pool to its members and their guests, its pool does not fall under the requirements of the ADA. However, if an association allows non-members of the association to use its pool in exchange for some form of compensation, its pool may fall under the definition of a public accommodation. If it does, the association will have to comply with the new ADA Standards no later than March 15, 2012.

Continue reading “HOAs and Swimming Pools–Do you need to be ADA Compliant?”

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The Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) has changed its proposed rule. As you will recall, FHFA had proposed a rather sweeping rule which called into question the ability of common interest communities to collect transfer fees, capital contributions or similar one-time assessments when a property is transferred. CAI weighed in heavily on this subject matter, pointing out the negative effects of such a rule. The result is that FHFA has revised the proposed rule.

The FHFA press release stated that:

FHFA has determined to propose a rule with a narrower focus. . . . In summary, the principal differences between the proposed guidance and the proposed rule are:

1. FHFA proposes to except from the rule private transfer fees that are paid to homeowners’ associations and similar associations, and to tax-exempt non- profit organizations, where the fees are used for the direct benefit of the encumbered properties.
2. FHFA proposes to make the rule prospective in effect, so that it applies to private transfer fee covenants created after the publication date of this proposed rule.
3. FHFA allows an implementation period of 120 days for the regulated entities.

The public participation was crucial to getting the FHFA to change its proposed rule. More than 4,210 comment letters were sent to the FHFA. This included comments from CAI and numerous homeowners, cooperative, and condominium associations; individuals living within such associations; community associations; and other nonprofit organizations.

Tarley Robinson, PLC, Attorneys and Counsellors at Law

Williamsburg, Virginia

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The Center for Community Association Volunteers for the Community Association Institute is offering an invaluable workshop called The Essentials of Community Association Volunteer Leadership. The course is being held on Saturday, October 22, 2011 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and is sponsored by the Central Chapter of Community Associations Institute.

For your convenience, we have attached a Registration form that provides more information.

Susan B. Tarley will be presenting Deed Restrictions for the Advanced ABC’s course for the Central Virginia Chapter of CAI.  This is the third and most advanced track of CAI’s Homeowner Education Curriculum.  Date:  November 13, 2010 from 8;30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  at Brandermill Clubhouse in Midlothian. Two other components are being presented – Building Community and insurance Matters.  Contact CVC-CAI Executive Director, Stacey Drayer at sdrayer_cvccai@verizon.net or 804-739-7655 to register. We’ll post an outline of the presentation.

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Susan was named recently to the Community Association Institute’s Virginia Legislative Action Committee (“VALAC”). VALAC monitors legislation affecting Virginia community associations in which more than 500,000 homeowners reside. VALAC is known as the “resource for providing accurate, timely, influential input to Virginia legislators.” You can follow Legislative Updates regarding community associations for the upcoming General Assembly session here.

Susan has long been an active participant in the CAI as a Board Member and Past President. If you have any legislative suggestions, call or send an email.

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February Tarley Robinson Newsletter

Topics include a discussion of email scams. Also, we’re sure that you have already made your diet or exercise New Year’s Resolutions. Hopefully you are still on track! For your homeowners association, here’s a simple, but effective and invaluable list of suggested New Year’s Resolutions.

Tarley Robinson November Newsletter