2013 Legislation: AB 637

This is an ECHO sponsored bill that establishes that the owner of each separate interest is responsible for maintaining the exclusive use common area appurtenant to the separate interest unless […]

read more

2012 Legislation: AB 806

This is the second of two bills from the California Law Revision Commission that restate and clarify the Davis-Stirling Act. This bill is now law, but becomes effective on January 1, […]

read more

2012 Legislation: AB 805

This is the first of two bills from the California Law Revision Commission that restate and clarify the Davis-Stirling Act. This bill is now law, but becomes effective on January […]

read more

2012 Legislation: AB 317

Would revise the conditions under which a tenancy is exempt from a local rent control ordinance to, among other things, make the exemptions applicable when the mobilehome space is not […]

read more

2011 Legislation: SB 759

Voids provisions in governing documents that prohibit artificial turf. Allows associations to establish design and quality standards.

read more

2011 Legislation: SB 563

Prohibits electronic meetings except for emergencies. Prohibits boards from taking action outside of a meeting, or from discussing items of business through email. Requires boards to provide agendas of executive […]

read more

2011 Legislation: SB 561

Would prohibit an association from assigning or pledging the association’s right to collect payments or assessments to a 3rd party, or to contract with a 3rd party to collect delinquent […]

read more

2011 Legislation: SB 209

Makes void and unenforceable any prohibition by an association that restricts the installation or use of an electric vehicle charging station. Requires homeowner to pay for all charges, damages, and […]

read more

2011 Legislation: SB 150

Would require associations to permit rentals by unit owners. Applies to governing document provision effective after January 1, 2012.

read more

2011 Legislation: AB 818

Would establish “Renter’s Right To Recycle Act.”

read more

Letters To The Editor: Stealth Reserves Uncovered

Published in the ECHO Journal, September 2007 Editor’s Note: The May 2007 issue of the ECHO Journal included an article titled “Stealth Reserves” by attorney Tyler Berding. In the article […]

read more

Waterproof Decks

Published in the ECHO Journal, September 2007 Waterproof decks are high on the list of the top ten building component items named in lawsuits as being defective despite the fact […]

read more

San Francisco Association Generates its own Electricity and Hot Water

Published in the ECHO Journal, October 2007 The Pacific Heights Towers Association is a 127-unit condominium in a 20-story high-rise in San Francisco. After the association experienced a 40 percent […]

read more

3 Challenges Every Small HOA Must Overcome

Small associations are often undercutted as having less problems than their larger counterparts, but this is far from the truth. With less members comes problems finding board members, paying assessments, […]

read more

Advantages of Incorporation

Many homeowners associations are unincorporated. The directors of these unincorporated associations must evaluate whether incorporation is actually to the advantage of their homeowners association. The purpose of this article is […]

read more

7 Common Mistakes in Approving HOA Contracts

Reviewing and accepting contracts is a regular and important requirement for homeowner associations  boards. However I see many boards that make mistakes in awarding contracts for work on association complexes. […]

read more

More Questions About HOA Elections

Published in the ECHO Journal, November 2007 Homeowner association members in California continue to raise questions about how elections should be conducted under the new law that went into effect […]

read more

CPA Management Letters to Associations

Published in the ECHO Journal, November 2007 What They Are & What They Should Contain Each year, most homeowner associations will engage a CPA to review or audit their annual […]

read more

Construction in Seismic Regions

Published in the ECHO Journal, November 2007  A Safety Issue Uncovered Throughout the last fifty years, there has been an increasing awareness of the need to provide a higher level […]

read more

The Question of Exterior Painting and Deferred Maintenance

Published in the ECHO Journal, December 2007 One recent trend in HOA exterior painting can unfortunately summed up by a simple question: “When is it time to repaint?” The unfortunate […]

read more

HOA Assessment Collection: Impacts From Federal Bankruptcy Laws

Published in the ECHO Journal, December 2007 Collection of homeowner assessments is a constant issue for community associations. This problem becomes even more difficult when a homeowner files a bankruptcy. […]

read more

Common Sense: Firestorm

Published in the ECHO Journal, December 2008 2007 will set yet another record for California acres consumed by fire. As I write this, after a week of massive destruction, firefighters […]

read more

© 2024 ECHO

Terms and Conditions | End-User License Agreement