HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - May 9, 2025
Published: Fri, 05/09/25
Updated: Wed, 05/14/25
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HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - May 9, 2025
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In this week's tip, we unpack an online lament from a Florida board member who says their management company has suddenly started slapping new fees onto their invoices. They're suddenly charging fees for “extra postings to portal or website since,” apparently in response to their state statute changes. They label those fees as “professional service fees.”
The HOA is also being charged $50 per month to review financials the manager puts together, to upload the minutes to the portal, to update the financials to the portal, and so on.
“It seems they're now charging for things they were always doing before the state law changed, but they didn't show those individual charges,” said the poster. “When asked, the management company said: ‘Because HOAs with more than 100 homes are required to post everything for membership to see,' they now charge.”
Can a management company add new fees mid-contract? Or can they claim new fees are necessary because new state laws require more notice to members and therefore more work?
Before addressing the main topic, one of our experts stresses a broader message he shares with all clients.
“This is another reason why it's important to have an attorney review your management contract before you sign it,” says Gregory R. Eisinger, a partner at Eisinger Law who represents condos and HOAs throughout the state; he also teaches a course on condo law at Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad College of Law and Florida state-approved condominium and HOA board certification courses. “If I were reviewing that contract, I'd put in a sentence that says that any changes to the management fees that aren't contemplated herein must be approved in writing by both parties and that the management company can't add additional fees.”
Read more, including that specific question of whether you could be hit with unexpected fees, in our new article: https://www.hoaleader.com/members/5093.cfm
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
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Recent articles posted at HOAleader.com:
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HOA Board Says Management Company Has Unilaterally Added New Fees
An HOA board member in Florida recently posted online about their property management company suddenly charging fees for “extra postings to portal or website since,” apparently in response to their state statute changes. They label those fees as “professional service fees.”
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/HOA-Board-Says-Management-Company-Has-Unilaterally-Added-New-Fees.cfm
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Former HOA Board Member: I Created That Board Email Address, So I Own It, Right?
In this week’s tip, we answer an HOAleader.com reader’s question about whether they have to, at the request of the association attorney, delete their association board email account. They also want to know who owns the email address and whether they’re legally obligated to stop using it...
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/Former-HOA-Board-Member-I-Created-That-Board-Email-Address-So-I-Own-It-Right.cfm
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HOA Owner Leaves the Board But Resists Surrendering Their HOA Email
An HOAleader.com reader asks: “When I was elected to our COA board it was suggested that I set up a special email address to avoid intermingling board and association mail with my regular personal email. My term has completed, and I’m told by the association attorney I must delete this email. The email name is the initials of the association, my first name and the word board@yahoo.com that I created at their suggestion. Who owns this e-mail address, and am I legally obligated to stop using it?”
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/HOA-Owner-Leaves-Board-But-Resists-Surrendering-Their-HOA-Email.cfm
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Smart, On-the-Spot Responses When Condo/HOA Owners Surprise or Challenge You
You’ve certainly heard completely off the wall or unworkable suggestions for running your condo or HOA from some of your owners. Your superpower as a board member should be to respond to every one of those recommendations in a way that makes the homeowner feel heard but that doesn’t commit the board to take any action. At the same time, you want to be sure you don’t escalate if you’re already in a tense discussion...
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/Smart-On-the-Spot-Responses-When-Condo-HOA-Owners-Surprise-or-Challenge-You.cfm
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How Expansive Does Your Condo/HOA Board Meeting Notice Need to Be?
A California HOA resident wants to know if their board has to do more than post board meeting notices on the HOA’s website—such as also emailing members...
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/How-Expansive-Does-Your-Condo-HOA-Board-Meeting-Notice-Need-Be.cfm
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Members can download the report here:
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