Rights and Responsibilities

For Better Communities

Principles for Condominium Owners and Community Leaders

Homeowners have the right to:

1. A responsive and competent community association.
2. Honest, fair, and respectful treatment by community leaders and managers.
3. Participate in governing the community association by attending meetings, serving on committees, and standing for election.
4. Access appropriate association books and records.
5. Prudent expenditure of fees and other assessments.
6. Live in a community where the property is maintained according to established standards.
7. Fair treatment regarding financial and other association obligations, including the opportunity to discuss payment plans and options with the association before foreclosure is initiated.
8. Receive all documents that address rules and regulations governing the community association either from real estate agent or from the association. 

Homeowners have the responsibility to:

1. Read and comply with the governing documents of the community.
2. Maintain their property according to established standards.
3. Treat association leaders honestly and with respect.
4. Vote in community elections and on other issues.
5. Pay association assessments and dues on time.
6. Contact association leaders or managers, if necessary, to discuss financial obligations and alternative payment arrangements.
7. Provide current contact information to association leaders or managers to help ensure they receive information from the community.
8. Ensure that those who reside on their property (e.g. tenants, relatives, and friends) adhere to all rules and regulations.

Community leaders have the right to:

1. Expect owners and non-owner residents to meet their financial obligations to the community.
2. Expect residents to know and comply with the rules and regulations of the community and to stay informed by reading materials provided by the association.
3. Respectful and honest treatment from residents.
4. Conduct meetings in a positive and constructive atmosphere.
5. Receive support and constructive input from owners and non-owner residents.
6. Personal privacy at home during leisure time in the community.

Community leaders have the responsibility to:

1. Fulfill their duties to the community and exercise discretion in a manner they believe to be in the best interests of the community.
2. Exercise sound business judgment and follow established management practices.
3. Balance the needs and obligations of the community as a whole with those of individual condominium owners and residents.
4. Understand the association’s governing documents and manage the community association accordingly.
5. Establish committees or use other methods to obtain input from owners and non-owner residents. 
6. Conduct open, fair, and well-publicized elections.
7. Welcome and educate new members of the community—owners and non-owner residents alike.
8. Encourage input from residents on issues affecting them personally and the community as a whole.
9. Encourage events that foster neighborliness and a sense of community.
10. Allow homeowners access to appropriate community records, when requested.
11. Collect all monies due from owners and non-owner residents.
12. Devise appropriate and reasonable arrangements, when needed and as feasible, to facilitate the ability of individual condominium owners to meet their financial obligations to the community.
13. Initiate foreclosure proceedings only as a measure of last resort.
14. Make covenants, conditions, and restrictions as understandable as possible, adding clarifying “lay” language or supplementary materials when drafting or revising the documents.