I often browse the websites and blogs of HOAs. Recently I read

a blog post by a board president that described a problem. They

didn't have enough members to meet the quorum necessary for the

board's actions to be valid.

This week's tip is about how to communicate with homeowners

if you find yourself in this situation.

The first thing to do is explain to all the owners what happens

when an association lacks the volunteers necessary for a quorum.

Eventually, the association may end up in receivership, overseen by

a person hired to collect the assessments, operate the association's

necessary functions (like utilities), and pay the bills. Receivers

typically don't work to build a community or even administer the

funds collected in the best interest of the community or in a manner

that enhances and preserves property values.

To combat this, Sima L. Kirsch, a principal at the Law Office of

Sima L. Kirsch P.C. in Chicago, advises, "Put together a letter

to all owners explaining how the law operates."

"The letter should say, 'We need three officers to operate the

board. If we can't do that, we'll go into receivership. If you

don't want to have somebody else control our building, you need

to step up.' Or go door-to-door explaining the situation."

For more discussion about how to improve your chances for

recruiting board members, see our recent article. Go to article »

You can also see our previous Tip of the Week on as an ongoing way to groom future board members.

Best regards,

Matt Humphrey

President