Print ArticleSACRAMENTO – The Legislature has sent a measure to the Governor aimed at providing education and lower-cost non-judicial conflict resolution in disputes between homeowners and their homeowner associations.
Assembly Member Lori Saldaña, the bill´s author and Chair of the Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development, said that the state needs to be more responsive to the complaints of homeowners and board members living in Homeowners Associations (HOA).
"These entities are essentially little governments," Saldaña said. "The state has empowered them with the ability to tax and to make and enforce laws that affect the day-to-day lives and the pocket books of homeowners."
"That´s a lot of power over people´s lives and property," she said.
Saldaña said that the state receives complaints that associations do not fulfill their obligations to homeowners or abuse their power, but state government currently does not have any oversight power and a homeowner´s only recourse in disputes is to sue their homeowners association.
"That´s not always an attractive or even a financially feasible option for many homeowners, especially seniors on limited incomes," Saldaña said.
Saldaña´s bill, AB 567, would establish a CID Bureau at the state level that would provide training and education for association officers, collect data on homeowner complaints, and establish a non-judicial forum for dispute resolution.
Nevada and Florida, both states with large populations living in common interest developments, have similar programs.
The bill moves to the Governor´s desk pending passage of the state budget.
Saldaña said Californians should contact the Governor and urge him to sign the bill.
Assembly Member Lori Saldaña, the bill´s author and Chair of the Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development, said that the state needs to be more responsive to the complaints of homeowners and board members living in Homeowners Associations (HOA).
"These entities are essentially little governments," Saldaña said. "The state has empowered them with the ability to tax and to make and enforce laws that affect the day-to-day lives and the pocket books of homeowners."
"That´s a lot of power over people´s lives and property," she said.
Saldaña said that the state receives complaints that associations do not fulfill their obligations to homeowners or abuse their power, but state government currently does not have any oversight power and a homeowner´s only recourse in disputes is to sue their homeowners association.
"That´s not always an attractive or even a financially feasible option for many homeowners, especially seniors on limited incomes," Saldaña said.
Saldaña´s bill, AB 567, would establish a CID Bureau at the state level that would provide training and education for association officers, collect data on homeowner complaints, and establish a non-judicial forum for dispute resolution.
Nevada and Florida, both states with large populations living in common interest developments, have similar programs.
The bill moves to the Governor´s desk pending passage of the state budget.
Saldaña said Californians should contact the Governor and urge him to sign the bill.
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