HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - July 4, 2025
Published: Fri, 07/04/25
Updated: Thu, 07/10/25
=================================================================
HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - July 4, 2025
=================================================================
In this week's tip, we provide some context and advice in response to reports we're hearing that more condos with shared garages are implementing safety procedures or restrictions to avoid electric vehicle or electric bike fires—in some communities, banning ebike parking and storage altogether.
Of course, the risk with each type of vehicle isn't the same. But we checked in with our experts to find out if their boards are implementing changes when it comes to safety against the risk of fire or explosion from either type of vehicle. It turns out that, despite these vehicles' growing popularity, some safety questions remain unanswered.
Perhaps because for a time it seemed to be a hub for fires caused by ebike batteries, a growing number of New York City condos have fully banned ebike storage in garages and units.
“In New York City, EVs aren't very common, but ebikes and escooters are,” reports Tina Larsson, LEED Green Associate and CEO of The Folson Group, who consults with and represents more than 100 co-op and condo associations in New York City.
“When it comes to ebikes, because there were some explosions, a lot of buildings implemented rules not allowing ebikes in the building—people aren't even allowed to walk an ebike through the building,” she explains. “That's very common. And while you typically store bikes in the basements in a bike storage area, those that have banned ebikes have eliminated that completely.”
Going south to Florida, Jonathan R. Zim, a partner who advises community associations at Eisinger Law in Hollywood, Fla., which represents 600-700 associations throughout the state, says the law in his state isn't clear on whether condos can keep owners from keeping an ebike in their unit.
“We do have clients who are interested in that,” he says. “I do think they can alleviate issues by creating a designated area for owners to store and charge them. I haven't seen the same issues arise with EVs.”
In Ohio, Robin Strohm, CCAL, a partner at Williams & Strohm LLC in Columbus, Ohio, who has represented condos and HOAs throughout Ohio for more than 20 years, hasn't had clients implementing bans on ebike storage. “I've heard generally there have been fires,” she explains. “Most of that would occur downtown here. We represent probably a half dozen or more condos downtown. I haven't had any boards approach us about banning them or limiting where they're stored.
“We do have clients who have EV charging stations,” adds Strohm. “One in particular has their own transformer that was installed by the electric company.
“We have a policy that we have boards use for EV charging stations, and we'll tailor those policies individually depending on how the association is configured and where the charging stations are,” she notes. “Most are in concrete parking garages, and there are policies on who can install them, what type of EV charger they can have, who's responsible for maintenance, and where those lines are run.”
One of our experts says that it's possible that, despite the benefit to the environment from EVs and ebikes, this might be a good time for your board to be extremely cautious to protect your building residents and your bottom line. Find out why, including questions you should ask to be sure you've covered your bases, in our new article: https://www.hoaleader.com/members/5131.cfm
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
=================================================================
Upcoming Event
How to Make Your Architectural Review Committee More Fair and Effective
An Exclusive HOAleader.com Webinar
With Practical Tips for Condo and HOA Boards
Thursday, July 10, 2025
2:00-3:00 p.m. Eastern
Learn more or register now: https://www.hoaleader.com/products/effective-architectural-review-committees-webinar-a.cfm
Members save $30!
=================================================================
Recent articles posted at HOAleader.com:
=================================================================
Why It’s Not Such a Baaaaad Idea for Your Condo/HOA to Hire Goats
An Idaho HOA needs to clear brush to reduce its fire risk, and an expert started bleating on about how goats could do the job. “That’s what goats do—they defoliate everything,” says Heather Lombard, goat herder in chief at Scapegoats. “I’ve heard of goats being used in active fires. They place them along a line so they’ll eat everything along the line, and the fires will stop where the goats have eaten.”
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/Why-Its-Not-Such-Baaaaad-Idea-for-Your-Condo-HOA-Hire-Goats.cfm
=================================================================
Answering Emails and Texts in No Time Flat! Is That Your Duty as a Condo/HOA Board Member? [HOAleader.com Video]
In this week’s tip, we talk about how you and your fellow board members can be responsive to condo/HOA issues that arise—even emergencies—while still working and having a life outside your board work...
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/Answering-Emails-Texts-in-No-Time-Flat-That-Your-Duty-as-Condo-HOA-Board-Member-HOAleader-Video.cfm
=================================================================
HOA Board Member Wants to Set a Double Standard (Perhaps Rightfully So) [HOAleader.com Video]
Is it reasonable to hold your manager to a swift response time but not require the same of your board members? Specifically, our HOAleader.com reader asks: “Anyone have good tips for setting expectations with a community association manager? I ask this because frequently a very large amount of communications from the management company that manages our HOA start with a greeting or pleasantry of ‘Good morning’ or ‘Good afternoon.’
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/HOA-Board-Member-Wants-Set-Double-Standard-Perhaps-Rightfully-So-HOAleader-Video.cfm
=================================================================
Is Your Condo/HOA Landscaper an Expert on the Safety of the Chemicals They Use?
In this week’s tip, we answer a reader’s implied question: Is my board taking a shortcut when it claims it consulted an expert on chemicals when all it did was ask the landscaper?
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/Your-Condo-HOA-Landscaper-Expert-on-Safety-Chemicals-They-Use.cfm
=================================================================
Lessons from a Montana Condo/HOA Management Company’s Legal Settlement
Condo owners in Montana sued a management company for its requirement that, if they purchase a unit and rent it out, they must allow the management company to exclusively handle those rentals—apparently at a 50 percent fee. The management company just settled for millions to be paid to three HOAs and their owners. It’s both a unique situation and one that may offer lessons to condo boards nationwide...
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/Lessons-from-Montana-Condo-HOA-Management-Companys-Legal-Settlement.cfm
=================================================================
SPECIAL REPORT DOWNLOAD
HOA Finances: Best Practices for Getting Your Homeowners Association through Difficult Economic Times
This report - newly updated! - was created to help you make smart decisions that will in turn help your HOA weather the current financial storm. We've spoken to leading condominium and homeowner association advisors across the country and distilled their recommendations down into practical, plain-English suggestions for what you can do now to best position your association for financial stability.
Members can download the report here:
https://www.hoaleader.com/public/179.cfm
Not a member yet? Start your free trial membership and download your copy today:
http://www.hoaleader.com/details.cfm
=================================================================
Get your own copy!
Subscribe to the HOAleader.com Tip of the Week here:
https://www.hoaleader.com/public/department49.cfm
=================================================================
Please feel free to forward the *entire text* of this email to others.
Copyright 2025, Plain-English Media, LLC
(866) 641-4548
https://www.hoaleader.com
Plain-English Media, 909 Marina Village Parkway #183, Alameda, CA 94501, USA
To unsubscribe or change subscriber options, visit:
https://www.aweber.com/z/r/?ThisIsATestEmail