What happens when hoarding occurs in a condo association?

The Mayo Clinic refers to compulsive hoarding as a mental health disorder that impacts a person’s ability to let go of items, no matter what their value. When hoarding occurs in a condo association, other property owners are put at risk of serious harm.

What do you need to know about a condominium association?

Condominium associations offer tangible benefits and services to their members, but members also owe certain obligations to the association and duties to their neighbors. Of course, condominiums are not all the same, and the legal framework governing condominiums varies from state to state.

What does a declaration of condo association mean?

A community’s “declaration of condominium” (or just “declaration”) is the source of a condo association’s authority, only trumped by state and federal law. The declaration is essentially a legally binding contract entered between the association and each unit owner.

What can a condo board do about it?

If an association suspects a member is a compulsive hoarder, the board can take the following steps to begin addressing the problem: 1. Speak with the condo owner. This is an important first step for the board, although it is usually not successful in correcting the problem. Most hoarders do not feel they are doing anything wrong.

Can a homeowners association fight a condo association?

Even in the best associations, conflict sometimes arises, whether it’s over parking rules, resident dues or another issue. And battling your condo or homeowners association can often be more difficult than fighting City Hall.

What happens if you dont pay condo association fees?

A lien means a creditor (here, the condo association) has the legal right to another’s property until a debt or duty has been satisfied (Chopp & Daher, § 8.3.3). In other words, if a condo owner fails to pay association fees, the condominium association may sell the property through a foreclosure and evict the condo unit owner.

When do you become a member of a condominium association?

All unit owners automatically become members of a condominium association upon purchasing a unit. Membership rights include the right to vote in elections for board members. The board of directors consists of a defined number of elected members (usually specified in the bylaws) and carries out the association’s obligations on its behalf.

Can a condo association use a lien to collect?

However, if an condo association decides to use a lien as enforcement and foreclosure to collect payment, it must follow all statutory requirements, such as giving a unit owner proper notice before taking foreclosure action. Rule enforcement can get complicated for both the association and condominium owners.