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COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS INSTITUTE
Rights and Responsibilities for Better Communities
Principles for Homeowners and Community Leaders |
Homeowners Have the Right To:
1. A responsive and competent community association.
2. Honest, fair and respectful treatment by community leaders and
managers.
3. Participate in governing the community association by attending
meetings, serving on committees and standing for election.
4. Access appropriate association books and records.
5. Prudent expenditure of lees and other assessments.
6. Live in a community where the property is maintained according
to established standards.
7. Fair treatment regarding financial and other association obligations,
including the opportunity to discuss payment plans and options with
the association before foreclosure is initiated.
8. Receive all documents that address rules and regulations governing
the community association—if not prior to purchase and settlement
by a real estate agent or attorney, then upon joining the community.
9. Appeal to appropriate community leaders those decisions affecting
non-routine financial responsibilities or property rights.
Homeowners
Have the Responsibility To:
1. Read and comply with the governing documents of the community.
2. Maintain their property according to established standards.
3. Treat association leaders honestly and with respect.
4. Vote in community elections and on other issues.
5. Pay association assessments and charges on time.
6. Contact association leaders or managers, if necessary, to discuss
financial obligations and alternative payment arrangements.
7. Request reconsideration of material decisions that personally affect
them.
8. Provide current contact information to association leaders or managers
to help ensure they receive information from the community.
9. Ensure that those who reside on their property (e.g., tenants,
relatives, and friends) adhere to all rules and regulations.
Community
Leaders Have the Right To:
1. Expect owners and non-owner residents to meet their financial obligations
to the community.
2. Expect residents to know and comply with the rules and regulations
of the community and to stay informed by reading materials provided
by the association.
3. Respectful and honest treatment from residents.
4. Conduct meetings in a positive and constructive atmosphere.
5. Receive support and constructive input from owners and non- owner
residents. |
6. Personal privacy at home and during
leisure time in the community.
7. Take advantage of educational opportunities (e.g., publications,
training workshops) that are directly related to their responsibilities,
and as approved by the association.
Community Leaders Have
the Responsibility To:
1. Fulfill their fiduciary duties to the community and exercise discretion
in a manner they reasonably believe to be in the best interests of
the community.
2. Exercise sound business judgment and follow established management
practices.
3. Balance the needs and obligations of the community as a whole with
those of individual homeowners and residents.
4. Understand the association’s governing documents and become educated
with respect to applicable state and local laws, and to manage the
community association accordingly.
5. Establish committees or use other methods to obtain input from
owners and non-owner residents.
6. Conduct open, fair and well-publicized elections.
7. Welcome and educate new members of the community—owners and non-owner
residents alike.
8. Encourage input from residents on issues affecting them personally
and the community as a whole.
9. Encourage events that foster neighborliness and a sense of community.
10. Conduct business in a transparent manner when feasible and appropriate.
11. Allow homeowners access to appropriate community records, when
requested.
12. Collect all monies due from owners and non-owner residents.
13. Devise appropriate and reasonable arrangements, when needed and
as feasible, to facilitate the ability of individual homeowners to
meet their financial obligations to the community.
14. Provide a process residents can use to appeal decisions affecting
their non-routine financial responsibilities or property rights— where
permitted by law and the association’s governing documents.
15. Initiate foreclosure proceedings only as a measure of last resort.
16. Make covenants, conditions and restrictions as understandable
as possible, adding clarifying “lay” language or supplementary materials
when drafting or revising the documents.
17. Provide complete and timely disclosure of personal and financial
conflicts of interest related to the actions of community leaders,
e.g., officers, the board and committees. (Community associations
may want to develop a code of ethics.) |
Community Associations Institute
(CAI) is a national organization dedicated to fostering vibrant, responsive,
competent community associations. Founded in 1973, CAI represents
association-governed communities, such as condominium and homeowner
associations, cooperatives, and planned communities. To learn more
about CAI and its local, regional and state chapters, visit www.caionline.org
or call CAI Direct at 703-548-8600.
Sponsored by CAI President’s Club |
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