HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - June 6, 2025
Published: Fri, 06/06/25
Updated: Fri, 06/13/25
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HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - June 6, 2025
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In this week's tip, we address an issue likely to grow in community associations—the appearance of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at your condo or HOA seeking either information on residents or access to your community.
The challenge is that you or your management company may not be able to share information or access with federal agents without violating owners' privacy.
Condo and HOA clients have reached out to Janet Oulousian Aronson, a partner at Marcus Errico Emmer & Brooks in Braintree, Mass., who is licensed in that state, in addition to Rhode Island and New Hampshire, for legal advice when ICE has shown up.
“ICE specifically is targeting Massachusetts, especially Boston,” she explains. “The administration has had issues with Boson Mayor Wu, and she had to testify before Congress. We've had ICE not just show up but also seek records to try to identify people and get information. They asked for information about unit owners, and they didn't have warrants. ICE seems to be looking for information, at least so far.
“What I've been advising clients—politics aside—is that I recommend they comply legally with any legal obligations,” says Aronson. “Unless associations are under a legal obligation, I wouldn't just give out information. By that I mean, unless there's a warrant, associations shouldn't be sharing information.
“Owners have a right to have your condo or HOA protect their information,” she adds. “And what if the information you give to ICE was wrong? So I don't recommend boards provide information without a warrant.”
The topic can get complicated, though. Read more, including why our experts generally suggest cooperating with law enforcement, in our new article: https://www.hoaleader.com/members/5110.cfm
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
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Rentals in Your HOA or Condo Getting You Down? What Condo/HOA Boards Need to Know About Regulating Rentals
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Recent articles posted at HOAleader.com:
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HOA Board Member Unilaterally Withholds Vendor’s Payment, and All Hell Has Broken Loose
In this week’s tip, we evaluate what went wrong after a vendor hired a lawyer and sent a demand letter to an HOA seeking payment blocked by just one board member. That vendor is also now complaining to the HOA about that sole board member’s actions...
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/HOA-Board-Member-Unilaterally-Withholds-Vendors-Payment-All-Hell-Has-Broken-Loose.cfm?sd=15
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Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/Pros-Cons-Community-Wide-Garage-Sales.cfm
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Fannie Mae’s Condo Blacklist Is Growing, and Reports Are That It’s a Bear to Get Off
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Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/Fannie-Maes-Condo-Blacklist-Growing-Reports-Are-That-Its-Bear-Get-Off.cfm
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Didn’t See This Coming: Vendor Hires Lawyer After Lone HOA Board Member Withholds Payment
An HOA board member says one of their vendors has hired a lawyer and sent a demand letter seeking payment that was blocked by one board member. That vendor is also now complaining to the HOA about that sole board member’s actions...
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/Didnt-See-This-Coming-Vendor-Hires-Lawyer-After-Lone-HOA-Board-Member-Withholds-Payment.cfm
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HOA Board Member Considers Inviting Owners on Walkabouts to Hunt for Violations [HOAleader.com Video]
In this week’s tip, we dissect what a board member online called “community citation walks.” Specifically, this board member wanted to know if they should ask homeowners to join the walk through the community. But we think that question puts the cart ahead of the horse, so to speak...
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/public/HOA-Board-Member-Considers-Inviting-Owners-on-Walkabouts-Hunt-for-Violations-HOAleader-Video.cfm
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SPECIAL REPORT DOWNLOAD
Pets at Condos and HOAs: Best Practices for the Challenges that Come with Residents' Animals
You may recall a fact often cited by many HOA insiders: The biggest challenges boards face are "the 3 Ps," which stand for Parking, Pets, and People. In this report, "Pets at Condos and HOAs: Best Practices for the Challenges that Come with Residents' Animals," our editorial team and our legal and management experts nationwide have come together to provide information on best practices for handling the difficult issues you face with pets in your community.
Members can download the report here:
https://www.hoaleader.com/public/Pets-at-Condos-HOAs-Best-Practices-for-Challenges-that-Come-with-Residents-Animals.cfm
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