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RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ASSOCIATIONS
July 1, 2004
Principles for Homeowners 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 – if not
prior to purchase and settlement by a real estate agent or
attorney, then upon joining the community.
9. Appeal to appropriate community leaders those
decisions affecting non-routine financial responsibilities
or property rights.
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 charges on time.
6. Contact association leaders or managers, if
necessary, to discuss financial obligations and alternative
payment arrangements.
7. Request reconsideration of material decisions that
personally affect them.
8. Provide current contact information to association
leaders or managers to help ensure they receive information
from the community.
9. Ensure that those who reside on their property
(e.g., tenants, relatives, 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 and during leisure time in
the community.
7. Take advantage of educational opportunities (e.g.,
publications, training workshops) that are directly related
to their responsibilities, and as approved by the
association.
Community Leaders Have the Responsibility To:
1. Fulfill their fiduciary duties to the community and
exercise discretion in a manner they reasonably 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 homeowners and residents.
4. Understand the association’s governing documents and
become educated with respect to applicable state and local
laws, and to 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. Conduct business in a transparent manner when
feasible and appropriate.
11. Allow homeowners access to appropriate community
records, when requested.
12. Collect all monies due from owners and non-owner
residents.
13. Devise appropriate and reasonable arrangements, when
needed and as feasible, to facilitate the ability of
individual homeowners to meet their financial obligations
to the community.
14. Provide a process residents can use to appeal
decisions affecting their non-routine financial
responsibilities or property rights – where permitted by
law and the association’s governing documents.
15. Initiate foreclosure proceedings only as a measure
of last resort.
16. Make covenants, conditions and restrictions as
understandable as possible, adding clarifying “lay”
language or supplementary materials when drafting or
revising the documents.
17. Provide complete and timely disclosure of personal
and financial conflicts of interest related to the actions
of community leaders, e.g., officers, the board and
committees. (Community associations may want to develop a
code of ethics.)
Written by the Community Associations Institute (CAI). To
learn more about CAI and its local, regional and state
chapters, visit www.caionline.org or call CAI Direct at
703-548-8600
Copyright 2007© Associated Property Management of the Palm Beaches, Inc.
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