Meetings and Member Participation: All communities, including older ones, will be required to hold an annual meeting. The notice period for annual and special meetings will be standardized to no less than 14 days and no more than 50 days before the meeting date. Additionally, the new law formalizes the ability for unit owners to participate in meetings remotely via telephone, video, or other real-time conferencing methods, with the association required to provide such an option.
Assessment Payments: The law specifies that associations must offer at least one free method for unit owners to pay their assessments. This is a significant change for older communities that may have previously relied on payment methods that incurred fees. The association is also now allowed to charge for utility expenses, such as water or electricity, on the same basis as the utility provider when those services are a common expense.
Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: The new law makes it much easier for residents to install EV charging stations. Associations are prohibited from unreasonably restricting the installation of EV charging stations in single-family homes, site condominiums, or planned unit developments where the units are not immediately adjacent.
Heat Pumps: Similar to EV charging stations, the installation of heat pumps is also protected under the new law. Associations will no longer be able to prohibit the installation of heat pumps, which are an energy-efficient heating and cooling solution, unless they are installed within a common element.
Resale Certificates: The new law provides more clarity regarding resale certificates, which are required when a unit is sold. It includes a process for a buyer to waive receipt of a resale certificate if the seller can attest that the association failed to provide it within ten days of the request.
There are a number of changes happening and these are only some of them. Talk to your lawyer. As always we recommend that you speak with legal counsel to review on how these affect your association.
