HOAleader.com - Tip of the Week - July 19, 2019
Published: Fri, 07/19/19
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Condo/HOA Access: The Key Points About Fob Systems
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In this week’s tip, we “secure” some information for you on key fobs (we know: that was a groaner!).
The great benefit of key fobs is that you can deactivate them when you need to get owners to pay up or begin complying with rules. Sweet!
That, however, isn’t the only factor you need to weigh before switching to fobs. Here, we “unlock” (all right, we’ll stop!) the mysteries of fob systems.
Implementing access control to the community and its common elements is an effective way to help ensure compliance with community guidelines, says Zuly Maribona, LCAM, a vice president at KW Property Management who leads the company’s Region 2 office headquartered in Bonita Springs, Fla.
“The technology is advancing and becoming both more common at home and work and simpler and more convenient for residents,” she says. “That aids in compliance and their general acceptance.”
That may be why it’s a common topic for our experts. “We definitely talk with boards about key fobs—they’re pretty common these days,” reports Elina Gilbert, a shareholder at Altitude Community Law in Lakewood, Colo., who’s specialized in community association law for 19 years. “Personally, I usually do support the fob system, assuming it’s a system that allows the association to activate and inactivate fobs remotely and track who’s got the fobs.
“For example, I was at a meeting a few nights ago in an association with a clubhouse and pool where people access the pool through a fob card,” she states. “The community doesn’t have cameras. But when they have an incident or someone’s at the pool after hours and does some damage, they can see if there was a fob card used after hours to access the pool. That allows them to have a better idea of who might have been out there.
“Also, when owners are delinquent and not allowed to use the pool anymore, it’s easier to deactivate the fob card than to say, ‘Give us back the pool key,’” says Gilbert. “You have to have the right to suspend use of facilities in your documents. To amend your documents to allow that, it usually requires a homeowner vote because you’re taking away someone’s right.”
In Ohio, it’s permissible to suspend the use of some facilities when owners are delinquent, says Jeffrey Kaman, a partner at Kaman & Cusimano, which represents condo and HOA associations throughout Ohio. “We’re not involved a whole lot in key fob issues—they’re more of a management issue,” he says. “To the extent we are involved, it’s in trying to restrict access, especially to those people who are delinquent. Here, associations can suspend the use of recreational facilities for owners who are delinquent. A lot of our associations have a key pad or a fob system, and if they don’t, many are looking at it.”
The systems, however, can be expensive and technically challenging. Check out our new article, What to Consider Before Your Condo/HOA Implements a Key Fob System, to find out more: https://www.hoaleader.com/members/3951.cfm
Best regards,
Matt Humphrey
President
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