2017 September
Focus on... Energy & the Environment

Energy Conservation Green Cleaning
2017 September Green Cleaning

Ideally, cleaning products have one primary function: to make things less dirty. But once one delves deeper into the overall goal, things get more complicated. What makes something really clean? Does it just look shinier? Smell better? Or i…

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Energy Conservation A Look at Cogeneration
2017 September A Look at Cogeneration

Many residential properties obtain their power from a local energy supplier. But in recent years, boards and managing agents have investigated, and in some cases, installed “cogeneration” systems that allow properties to produce a portion o…

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Q&A Q&A: Stock Certificates and Co-ops
2017 September Q&A: Stock Certificates and Co-ops

Q. I purchased a unit in a cooperative building in 2014. The board of directors claimed they no longer used stock certificates, even though our stockholders’ agreement calls for a simultaneous transfer of the certificate and the lease ass…

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Q&A Q&A: Renting Out a Condo
2017 September Q&A: Renting Out a Condo

Q. Can an association change the owner’s right to rent out his condo?                                   —Just Wondering   A. “The general answer is yes, the association can change an owner’s right to rent out his or her condominium,” …

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Q&A Q&A: Where Do We Go When Management Commits Fraud?
2017 September Q&A: Where Do We Go When Management Commits Fraud?

Q. Who can we contact to file a complaint, other than the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBRP), against the management company for knowingly submitting forged proxies at our annual meeting? We are a POA.  We already f…

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Q&A Q&A: Is HOA Responsible for Removing Tree Roots?
2017 September Q&A: Is HOA Responsible for Removing Tree Roots?

Q. We own a townhouse style condo (one unit on each side, no unit above or below ours ). We have a wooden deck in the back our unit. Deck maintenance (i.e., painting, wood repair) is our responsibility. However there is a big tree 15 feet…

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Q&A Q&A: Where Are Our Rights?
2017 September Q&A: Where Are Our Rights?

Q. What do you do when the president of the board, property manager, and super are all from the same family? I tried waking up our shareholders with memos and flyers about the conflict of interest to no avail. Our beautiful Garden of Eden…

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