It's a condition that affects between three and five percent of all Americans, both men and women. With an aging baby boomer generation, experts predict that the problem is only going to get worse. It’s called hoarding and for condominium associations, particularly...
Bylaws
Michigan Court of Appeals Rules That Short-Term Rentals May Violate Single-Family Residential Use Ordinances
Michigan Court of Appeals (unpublished), Docket No. 342831, Decided October 25, 2018 With the advent of Airbnb and similar services, the issue of short-term rentals has increasingly become a problem for condominium and homeowners associations over the last few years....
Recreational Marijuana: What Every Association Should Know
The legalization of marijuana in Michigan concurrently provides a framework for its regulation and control. Association boards will be able to look to the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act (“MRTMA”) (MCL 333.27951 et seq.), and the regulatory scheme...
Bankruptcy – What Every Condominium Association Must Know
Delinquent assessments are unfortunately a frequent and practically universal problem for condominium associations. The collection of delinquent assessments is essential to the viability of any condominium association; however, these collection efforts can become...
4 Reasons Your Michigan Condominium or Subdivision Association Should Update Its Governing Documents
Governing documents for Michigan community associations serve several functions. The foremost of these functions is to inform members and prospective members of the respective rights and obligations of membership in the association relative to the upkeep of the...
Responding to a Member’s Request To Review and Inspect Your Association’s Books and Records
Member requests to review and inspect an association’s records and books are a fairly typical occurrence and should not be a reason to panic, but such requests should be dealt with in a prompt and orderly fashion for reasons explained in this article. Some members are...
Mastering Condo Maintenance: Why Legal Guidance is Key for Crafting a Responsibility Matrix
A responsibility matrix is a summary of association and co-owner responsibilities for maintenance, repair, and replacement of the condominium common elements and units. Because condominium master deeds, even when clearly drafted, can be complicated and often...
Make Sure Your Enforcement Charges are Collectible
In the course of running a Condominium Association, various charges may be provided by the Condominium Documents to be assessed against or posted to the accounts of co-owners who are either delinquent or in violation of other provisions of the Condominium Documents....
Drones: Regulation Under State and Federal Law, and Controlling Via a Community’s Governing Documents
Unmanned aircrafts, commonly known as drones, are becoming increasingly popular both for recreational and business uses. Technological advancements have increased those potential uses and brought the costs down. Given the popularity, constant technological...
Short-Term Lessors Lose Another Appeal
The Michigan Court of Appeals recently issued an opinion in Apache Hills Property Owners Association, Inc. v Sears Nichols Cottages, LLC (Docket No. 360554) which reconfirms how to interpret leasing and use restrictions. This case involved a dispute over the...
To Keep or Not to Keep: Navigating the Legal and Social Challenges of Backyard Chickens in Michigan Condominiums
Keeping backyard chickens has become increasingly popular over the years as more and more people seek to live a sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle. But is it legal for Michigan community association residents to keep chickens in the backyard of their...
Be Aware of Potential Disparate Impact Discrimination Claims in Your Association
In community association administration, disparate impact claims can arise when a seemingly neutral policy or practice has a disproportionate negative impact on a group protected by fair housing laws. For example, communities occasionally ask us whether they can...











