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By Sherri Hall

As 2021 progresses, many communities are hoping to be able to start reopening some of their amenities this year. Although very few have already reopened, many amenities have been closed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. But will reopening require additional maintenance? And has maintenance of the amenities and the communities as a whole been affected by the pandemic? We spoke to Doris Steele, Partner at Spinnaker Management, to get her perspective on the matter.

According to Steele, the CDC regulations have prevented most communities from opening their amenities during the pandemic, mainly because of the cost involved to comply with the requirements. “Many were unable to follow the CDC recommendations with having to hire staff to monitor social distancing, contact tracing, mask wearing and sanitizing, so most communities did not open their amenities since the pandemic started, including their pools,” she said.

Steele noted, however, that while none of the communities her company manages opened their clubhouses or fitness centers during the pandemic, a couple did decide to open their pools. She explained that these associations saw a significant increase in pool-related maintenance costs as they had to purchase sanitizing stations, hire additional staffing to monitor social distancing, perform sanitizing measures every hour, on the hour, and conduct contact tracing..

For those that did not reopen their pools, they still saw their normal pool-related costs during the pandemic, said Steele. Technically, the pools had to be opened (just not for use) in order for maintenance to be performed on them, which Steele said was still necessary. “You have to do pool maintenance no matter what,” she noted.

In order to reopen the gyms and clubhouses, associations will need to ensure they have a cleaning contract in place and will need to have an initial major cleaning performed to get everything sanitized properly. Additionally, the fitness equipment will need to be serviced and cleaned.

Not only will the clubhouses and fitness centers be required to be fully sanitized, but the maintenance of keeping those areas sanitized may be more frequent than it was in the past, said Steele. “This could place an extra burden on the properties in terms of their budgets regarding their amenities,” she said.

While many associations were able to save money in terms of amenity maintenance, this will not be the case in 2021. “What you saved in 2020, you’re certainly not going to save in 2021,” said Steele. “Those retained earnings will be needed in 2021 to open the amenities due to the extra expenditures of sanitizing as per the CDC guidelines.”

Of course, Steele said associations did not remove any of their usual amenity costs from their budgets for 2021 with the idea in mind that the pandemic isn’t going to last forever, and they would eventually be able to reopen. “It’s important to keep those budget line items in there so the common charges reflect what you would normally utilize,” she said. “I think the biggest question in terms of 2021 budgets was, ‘If we do open, where are we going to get the extra money needed to follow the CDC guidelines?’ And I think reopening really depends on the CDC guidelines and the budget of each property and whether or not the property can afford to hire additional staffing to get some of these amenities open.”

Steele said she believes that making certain modifications may help associations tackle this issue and keep costs down as much as possible. “I do see communities moving in this direction to try and get some of their amenities open, but maybe with limited hours,” she noted. “In the approach that I’m taking, we’re talking about it and what it might look like in terms of starting slowly. Ultimately, I think we have to run it by each community and perhaps take a poll. Ask how many people plan to use the fitness center and what hours they would want to go. And try to customize it from there because it’s definitely going to affect the budget.”

Of course, closing amenities wasn’t the only change that took place during the pandemic. Certain projects and their timing were also affected, noted Steele. She explained that early in the pandemic, statewide shutdowns affected some of the bigger projects, as certain contractors were not considered “essential workers” and it was also difficult for some to hire staff during that time. Therefore, for example, a roofing project that started in 2020 and had previously been expected to be finished in 2020 as well may have only been halfway completed with the other half now planned for 2021.

“We did fall behind on some of the bigger ticketed items, and people were concerned that things were taking a long time,” said Steele.

In this case, she said it’s important for property managers to communicate with the unit owners. Having a one-call system, for example, is helpful for being able to send an email to every homeowner at the same time. This can allow managers to let the homeowners know what is taking place regarding certain projects and help alleviate their concerns about what is happening in the community.

Steele noted that with many unit owners home during working hours for the first time, people were more aware of things that they may not have noticed in the past. For example, people who were now forced to work from home were experiencing lawnmowers running while they were trying to work. She said it was, and still is, important for managers to communicate with homeowners and let them know that this is what typically happens when they are at work outside the home.

With everyone being home, Steele said, managers have been receiving more calls from homeowners with concerns and needs. This, she said, has put additional pressure on property managers to have their contractors perform, sometimes even outside of their contracts.

Steele noted that one of the major concerns for managers in 2020 was making sure everything got done that needed to before the first snowfall. “We just kept pushing through and were able to accomplish what was necessary going into the season,” she said. “It wasn’t easy, but we were able to navigate through it while trying to keep the homeowners updated. For the most part, people understood once it was explained to them.”

In terms of routine maintenance, those items weren’t really affected as those contractors were considered “essential,” noted Steele. “They were able to continue working and we were able to keep up the maintenance for the properties,” she said. “Everything still needs to be done. Once the snow is gone and we’re into April, the lawns need to be cared for. We’re still staying on the same schedule,” she said.

Aside from snow removal, winter maintenance items also include any necessary tree pruning or tree removal, which is best done while the trees are dormant from late fall until early spring.

Other than that, Steele explained that during the winter is the time for communities to start gearing up for their spring projects. “Right now is the time to gather contracts and prepare for projects you want to accomplish in the spring,” she said.

It’s also the time to get ready for spring maintenance items including power washing; lawn maintenance such as fertilizing, weeding, and mowing; pool-related items such as acid washing and opening preparations; fire hydrant flushing; inspections of air conditioning systems; and inspections of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.

In addition, Steele said it’s important to get any damage caused during the winter months taken care of as quickly as possible during the spring, especially trip hazards, as well as any larger projects such as roof or siding replacement.

By Alyssa Gautieri

Odor-related complaints are more common than you’d think—whether it’s cigarette smoke in outdoor common areas, the lingering scent of food in hallways, or the smell of perfume penetrating the walls. 

According to attorney John LaGumina, of LaGumina Law Firm in Purchase New York, an association has the obligation to get involved in most odor-related complaints. 

A board’s nuisance rules will play a big part when dealing with official complaints about odors caused by residents, LaGumina said. Nuisance rules discourage and prohibit residents from doing anything that unreasonably annoys or interferes with another resident’s right to peacefully possess, use or enjoy their home and property. While nuisance rules tend to be general and broad, the board can use these rules to address specific complaints regarding smoke, food smells, or unsanitary conditions causing odors that impact one or more residents.

From cigarette and marijuana smoke to strong perfumes and unsanitary conditions, LaGumina pointed out issues in addressing different odor-related complaints.

Cigarette Smoke

Not only is the smell of cigarette smoke unenjoyable to most bystanders, second-hand smoke can have detrimental health effects. According to LaGumina, “if a board receives a second-hand smoking complaint, it has to be addressed.”

“For decades, the law said that the board had no responsibility for what happened inside a unit, including smoking. There is a persistent trend in recent case law, however,  that holds that boards now have the duty to do something. Courts are increasingly likely to penalize boards for doing nothing about a smoking complaint,” he said.

“If the association receives a complaint about smoking, that presumably violates the nuisance rules that are already in place,” LaGumina said.  Thus, “the board can send a warning letter and if the conduct continues, the board can eventually fine the resident.”

“Residents do not have the constitutional right to smoke and outright smoking bans, if properly adopted and approved by the unit owners, can be upheld,” LaGumina said. Most governing documents also give the board alone the ability to adopt regulations concerning smoking in the common areas—which include decks, terraces, and patios.

To ban smoking inside a unit, at least two-thirds of the unit owners would have to agree to amend the governing documents. Even without an interior smoking ban, a board can still, on their own, enact a new rule and policy that second-hand smoke complaints will be considered nuisances and result in warnings and fines. 

If a resident with asthma or allergies is filing second-hand smoke complaints, it could become a more serious issue. “If an adjoining resident has a medical condition that makes them more sensitive to second hand smoke, the board’s duty to take action escalates,” said LaGumina.

According to LaGumina, the board could also hire an engineer to look at the building and decide if anything could be done to better seal off units and stop smoke from penetrating adjoining units.

Marijuana 

If there is a complaint from a resident about the use of marijuana, the association would follow the same steps as recommended for a second-hand smoke complaint—most often issuing a warning followed by a fine for breaking the nuisance rules.

“The board is not under any duty themselves to contact the police, and police departments often may not respond to calls regarding marijuana use.  However, the board can remind the complainant that they have the right to contact the police,” LaGumina said. “Unless the board members witnessed the smoking, the board usually does not have the ability to make a first-hand complaint to the police.”

If a resident is prescribed medical marijuana, condominiums and HOAs are required to offer a reasonable accommodation to their no smoking rules. If a resident complains about the use of marijuana by another resident who is legally allowed to use marijuana, LaGumina suggested speaking to the resident with the legal marijuana prescription and trying to arrive at a compromise. 

Food Smells

Whether it’s the scent of a homemade meal in the oven or the stench of burnt burgers after a barbecue gone wrong, it’s not uncommon for residents to complain about lingering food smells that come from their neighbors. Even if the smell is a good one—such as cookies baking in the oven—proper ventilation should not allow residents to smell food that’s cooking next door.

In the case of a complaint, the association should follow the same steps as they would for any other nuisance, according to LaGumina.

If an association warns or fines a resident who is responsible for distracting food smells, it must be careful to avoid any discrimination. “Any food smell policies put in place definitely need to be uniform to prevent a discrimination lawsuit,” said LaGumina. 

If there are many complaints about surrounding food smells, the associations could contact an engineer to see if there are any defects or ways to improve ventilation. “Many of the older condominiums don’t have the basic ventilation that helps circulate the air for food smells,” LaGumina said. “The association can certainly set up an inspection policy and try to require owners to install kitchen fans and encourage unit owners to use kitchen fans.”

Body Odor & Perfumes

It’s possible that a resident is allergic to the perfume used by another resident, or that a resident has an especially noxious problem. “Anything that causes annoyance to other residents can be considered a nuisance,” said LaGumina, who noted that these body odor or perfume issues are not very common. 

These issues should be handled as a smoke complaint would be. The association can resort to the typical clause in most governing documents that bans noxious fumes or odors.

Unsanitary Conditions

If a resident is hoarding, it will likely become evident to their neighbors over time—and there may also be a smell that emanates from their unit. In these cases, an association must tread lightly; a resident may be hoarding due to a mental health condition or another ailment or infirmity. The situation can be treated as a nuisance, although more extreme measures may be required. 

“Hoarding situations are unfortunate, and once they arise, it takes a long time for them to go away,” said LaGumina, who added “there are different ways for a board to approach a hoarding situation.”

According to LaGumina, the association can write a letter to Adult Protective Services (APS)—an agency that helps elderly adults (65 years and older) and dependent adults (18-64 who are disabled), when these adults are unable to meet their own needs. APS may come out to inspect the situation to determine if the person is endangering themselves. 

The association can also contact the fire inspector as hoarding conditions can constitute a fire hazard. “The association may have to be persistent in these tough situations,” said LaGumina.

Keep in mind, regarding access to a unit that may be hoarding, board members or managing agents do not have the right to enter a unit unless the owner agrees.  Without such permission, a court order would be needed which could involve costly and time-consuming litigation.

By Sherri Hall

With information on the COVID-19 virus and how it spreads constantly being revised, many people who live in community settings are concerned and want to be sure their associations are taking the steps necessary to keep residents and staff safe. This is especially true for those living in a high-rise community where air ducts are shared throughout the building. [Read more…] about Installing UV Lights in Air Ducts — 
Will it Kill the COVID-19 Virus?

By Alyssa Gautieri

There are quite a few ways that an association manager can breach their fiduciary duty to the association, whether it’s acting outside of their scope of responsibility or performing a task that was unauthorized by the board. As hired workers, do managers have the same fiduciary duty to the association as the board?

According to attorney Sara A. Austin — a partner at Austin Law Firm, LLC in York, Pennsylvania — fiduciary duty is a legal concept that refers to the duty owed by one person to another person or entity. The fiduciary, whether a real estate agent, lawyer, or association manager, acts on behalf of the principal.

“The fiduciary must act in the best interest of the principal — in this case, the association — even if it would hurt the fiduciary  by doing so,” Austin said. An association manager must perform their established duties while putting their client’s interest ahead of their own and preserving good faith and trust.

A manager is hired by the board to act on behalf of the association and is essentially “stepping into the shoes of the board to complete delegated tasks,” Austin said. “In essence, managers have the same fiduciary duty to the association as the board.”

If the association is professionally managed, the manager handles most of the day-to-day operations, whereas the board deals with governance matters. “The manager has no more power than the board does, so if the board is not authorized by statute or otherwise to do something, a manager cannot do it,” Austin said.

A breach of fiduciary duty occurs when the fiduciary acts in their interest, rather than the best interest of the principal. A manager or management company signs a contract at the time of employment or engagement that should outline those responsibilities. A breach of duty may occur if a manager performs duties that are contrary to the contract or go beyond the authority that was granted to them by the board. 

For example, if a board authorizes the manager to sign a contract for a job that costs $2,000 but the contract states the job will cost $3,000. In this case, the manager has exceeded his or her authority. If there is a breach of fiduciary duty, a manager could be liable for the damages to the association.

The association must protect itself from a manager that acts outside of their authority. The board should have a clear understanding of its contract with the management company, according to Austin. The contract should outline the manager’s responsibilities, who is monitoring the manager’s performance, and how the manager reports his or her actions and performance  to the board.

The contract should also outline how checks and balances are going to occur, “especially when it comes to financial issues,” said Austin, who noted that communication between the manager and the treasurer is very important. “There has to be awareness of what is going on so if something seems amiss, it can be stopped early.”

There may also be a breach of fiduciary duty if the board directs a manager to perform a duty outside of the scope of their responsibility and the manager complies. For example, the manager alone cannot approve the budget even if the board were to ask them to do so. “The manager needs to know what the board can delegate to them,” said Austin.

If the board is pushing for a manager to perform a duty that cannot legally be asked of them, the manager should not take that action because they could be held liable if the duty is performed. Any changes in authority should be written down, whether in the bylaws or manager contract. “Having it in writing protects everyone,” said Austin. The manager can contact the president of the board or the association’s counsel, or the management company may seek their own counsel if issues persist.

When it comes to avoiding any breaches in fiduciary duty, Austin said, “it’s really important for the board and the management agent to have a good working relationship.”

By Austin James, CPCU, ARM

Parametric Insurance

Every year our country experiences catastrophic weather threats in a variety of forms. This could come from hurricanes, wildfires, hail storms, earthquakes, and blizzards. Many of these events can cause damage that reaches into billions of dollars. There are a lot of insurance companies that protect against these catastrophic claims, however most have high deductibles and there are a lot of exclusions. A product has arisen in the marketplace to fill the coverage gaps excluded by traditional insurance and help to pay for losses beneath the deductible. This is parametric Insurance.

How does Parametric Insurance differ from our current Insurance?

Parametric insurance is an index based insurance product that has been around for decades in the reinsurance space. Its goal is to provide immediate funds to the policy holder when a specific event has occurred within a measurable data set. Parametric insurance covers a specific peril (earthquake, hail, hurricane) which has a trigger (peak ground acceleration/earthquake intensity, hail stone size, sustained wind speed) and has a trusted 3rd party data source (USGS, Corelogic, RMS etc). Some programs may also have on-site monitors for local activity as a backup to the main data providers. The policy will have certain thresholds which activate the limit of indemnity purchased and when those thresholds are met the policy limit is available for payment.

Limits and Scope of Coverage

The limit of the policy is essentially a blanket limit for the insured that can be recouped to indemnify against any economic loss incurred as a result of the event. This can include items traditionally covered under insurance but underneath the deductible. It can also include any items not covered under the insurance policy but are still economic losses to the insured. This could include things like claims management fees from property managers, cosmetic damage to your structure, damage to outdoor property, engineering and safety certification costs, equity protection, the list is endless…

Unique Claim Resolution

One of the most attractive qualities about parametric is its ability to pay rapidly and without adjustment. Typically the insured just sends in a signed statement of loss with their economic claims identified and their check is issued within weeks after verifying that the policy trigger was met. The other really great part is that it pays out regardless of your traditional property carrier’s claim determination. Your property carrier could deny a claim and a parametric policy would still pay. You could even buy only a parametric policy without traditional insurance cover.

Minimizes the Stress of Traditional Property Insurance Adjustment

During a catastrophic event, insureds may find the claims process to be very stressful. They are joined in with thousands of other policy holders seeking payment and many times the process can drag out as adjuster resources are not infinite. Sometimes the value an insured receives from the carrier may not be what they were expecting or they may find an exclusion of coverage they didn’t fully understand before. In these scenarios, having the benefit of a parametric policy in place can be a godsend and a much needed relief to start the rebuilding process. Over the next decade you will see more and more implementation of this type of coverage and it is worth exploring as an option at your renewal.

Austin James, CPCU, ARM is an expert in parametric insurance and catastrophic property placement. Feel free to reach out with any questions. He is able to secure this coverage for you through your existing retail insurance broker. He is an Associate Director of the CAT and Specialty Property Division of The McGowan Companies.

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