HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - November 14, 2025
Published: Fri, 11/14/25
Updated: Wed, 11/19/25
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BREAKING
HUD Quietly Withdraws Guidance Affecting Condos and HOAs
On September 17, 2025, the Trump Administration issued a Notice of Withdrawal of Guidance regarding a number of fair housing rules and regulations, including some related to emotional support animals.
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/5206.cfm
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HOA Takes Issue With Insurer’s Denial of Coverage Over HOA’s Alleged Neglect
Ugh. Industry insiders wonder whether a recent lawsuit is a signal that more condos and HOAs like yours might need to pick a fight with your insurance company to actually get the coverage you've paid dearly for.
In this week's tip, we explain why.
The case that has triggered this discussion was brought by Meadowview Village Owners Association in Redmond, Wash.. It has sued its insurer for $16.3M after that insurer denied coverage.
There's little detail in the news reports on the case, and we're so far unable to pull up a copy of the complaint through public searches. But with the details we know so far, our experts think this case goes beyond the normal insured-suing-insurer case and may be a sign of a battle your condo or HOA might need to engage in sometime in the future.
The dispute involves hidden water damage in the walls and framing of Meadowview, according to reports. The HOA has an all-risks policy, which, as its name implies, covers all risks except those the policy specifically excludes. The insurer has denied coverage, claiming that the HOA's faulty, inadequate, or defective construction or maintenance is the cause of the damage. The insurer also cited its neglect exclusion.
It's that neglect denial that caused an insurance industry publication to raise the issue of whether this case could shape condo and HOA insurance going forward. The collapse of Champlain Towers in Florida has shined a spotlight on condos and HOAs that have for too long declined to raise the funds from owners necessary to do routine maintenance—keep assessments low, those boards profess!
The question now is whether that refusal to raise assessments for so long will prompt more insurers in the future to try to save money by denying condo and HOA claims using that catchall neglect clause?
Find out what our experts say—and the steps they suggest you take if you don't believe you're getting the insurance coverage you're entitled to under your policy, in our new article: https://www.hoaleader.com/members/5201.cfm
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
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Upcoming Event
How to Protect Your Condo/HOA and Your Own Mental Health in the Face of Increasingly Angry and Aggressive Owners
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Thursday, November 20, 2025
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Recent articles posted at HOAleader.com:
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HOA Gets Hit With a Doozy of A Management Fee and Says It’s Without Notice
In this week’s tip, we help out an HOAleader.com reader who asks whether their management company can add a surprise fee of $36 per month per unit fee to owners who’ve chosen to pay a special assessment overtime. Our experts wonder if this is truly a surprise or whether the management contract needed closer review and negotiation...
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/HOA-Gets-Hit-With-Doozy-Management-Fee-Says-Its-Without-Notice.cfm
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Is This A New Condo/HOA Management Fee? And How Did This Board Not Know About It?
An HOAleader.com reader asks: ”Upon implementing our special assessment, the treasurer noticed our management company is charging a fee of $36 per unit for each month the owner makes payments. That cost isn’t going to the homeowner, but to our operating account. Is this how special assessments are handled?
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/This-New-Condo-HOA-Management-Fee-How-Did-This-Board-Not-Know-About-It.cfm
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Smart Ways Your Condo/HOA Board Members Can Boost People Skills
In this week’s tip, we help out a reader who responded to our tip of the week about the conflicts between generations on condo and HOA boards. Our reader asked for more tips on people skills. Can do!
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/Smart-Ways-Your-Condo-HOA-Board-Members-Can-Boost-People-Skills.cfm
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Modifying Your Condo/HOA Governing Documents: When It's Necessary and How to Accomplish It With Less Stress
Did you miss our webinar on modifying your condo/HOA governing documents? If so, you missed a great session! Get a copy of the recording so your entire board can watch on demand. If you're like most condo/HOA board members, when you've read your declaration, your bylaws, or some other governing document, you've thought: “Wait, that can't be right.” Whatever the challenge with your documents, it's important to ensure that any changes you make are done purposefully and properly. In just 60 minutes, you'll hear the most important information you need to assess and update your governing documents to make your job and your owners' lives better.
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/products/modifying-your-hoa-governing-documents-b.cfm
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Weighing the Pros and Cons When An Owner Wants to Be Your HOA Manager [HOAleader.com Video]
In this week’s tip, we discuss the range of jobs for which you can—but maybe you shouldn’t—hire your owners. The question arises because an HOAleader.com reader asks a straightforward question: Can one of your owners become your community association manager? Perhaps a more important question is: Should they?
Click here to read the full article:
https://www.hoaleader.com/members/Weighing-Pros-Cons-When-Owner-Wants-Be-Your-HOA-Manager-HOAleader-Video.cfm
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SPECIAL REPORT DOWNLOAD
How to Prevent and Resolve Conflicts of Interest at Condos and HOAs: 8 Real-Life Case Studies
In this comprehensive report, we've sought the advice of legal experts on the best practices for identifying, avoiding, and resolving conflicts of interest in your association. The information in this report will not just help you operate your community association better and with more confidence, but it'll give you peace of mind that you're reducing your risk as a volunteer.
Members can download the report here:
https://www.hoaleader.com/public/how-to-prevent-conflicts-of-interest-report.cfm
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