HOA Blog - California
Our HOA Blog is added to several times each month so please visit it often. If you would like to respond to any HOA blog, please contact us. Our HOA Articles are also added to and updated regularly.
One of the important services we provide is offering HOA property management proposals to developers that are both comprehensive and reasonably priced. We are aware that the HOA fees charged home buyers makes a difference in their selection decision. We will provide you with a highly competitive price and will back it up with excellent service. Our firm has been in business since 1987. See: Developer and Home Builder Services.
Please be certain to install any personal cameras only after checking your homeowner association CC&Rs and operating rules. These governing documents are likely to include restrictions limiting their placement. Other residents are entitled to the protection of their privacy. One restriction is certain. Homeowners may not attach cameras to the common areas without obtaining the written approval of the board. Please use the architectural improvement application on our website before installing any cameras.
Effective January 1, 2026, California’s Assembly Bill 628 requires all landlords to provide both a working refrigerator and a cooking stove or range as part of the rental unit for any tenancy that is:
1. Newly created on or after January 1, 2026, or
2. Renewed or extended on or after January 1, 2026.
This requirement applies statewide to residential rentals. It does not retroactively apply to fixed-term leases that are neither renewed nor extended on or after January 1, 2026.
Included appliances: A refrigerator and a cooking stove or range. Microwaves or hot plates do not satisfy the stove/range requirement.
Habitability and maintenance: Once provided, these appliances become part of the rental and must be maintained in good working order, with repairs handled like other landlord-provided fixtures, unless damage is caused by tenant misuse.
Per the California legislature, landlords are expected to absorb all costs.
Failure to comply with this law will result in a landlord losing its eviction action.
In order for boards to be in compliance with the Davis-Stirling Act and in order to preserve the right to increase assessments up to 20% per year without a vote of the membership, they must distribute their 2027 budget on time. See: Budget Required and Timeline for HOA Budget.
It is highly recommended that HOA board members authorize their property manager to take certain actions well in advance of the winter season. The cost will be less during the dry season and the chances of property damage will be reduced. Following is a checklist. (1) Roofs should be inspected for needed repairs; (2) Roof gutters and drains should be cleaned and inspected for needed maintenance; (3) Decks for which the association is responsible, should be inspected for needed repairs; (4) Sump pumps should be tested after the area around them is cleared of debris; (5) Drainage lines in the common areas should be cleared so they will be able to carry the maximum amount of water; (6) Slopes should be protected with additional plant material or sand bags, if needed; and (7) Sand bags and tarps should be acquired from the local hardware store or fire department, for emergency use, before supplies become scarce. The cost of preventive maintenance performed now could save your HOA members substantial dollars later. Remember, once the rain starts, roofing companies will be swamped with calls. This is when prices increase.
California Civil Code Section 5551 (f) mandates that the inspection report for exterior elevated elements (such as balconies and decks) required by law must be signed and stamped by the inspector, presented to the HOA board, and incorporated into the association’s reserve study. This ensures structural safety findings are integrated into long-term maintenance planning. This subsection is part .of the “Balcony Bill” (SB 326/SB 721), which requires safety inspections for elevated wooden elements over 6 feet high every 9 years.
Asbestos is a hazardous, microscopic mineral found in older homes (pre-1980s) within insulation, flooring, and ceiling materials. It only poses a health risk, such as mesothelioma or lung cancer, when disturbed, releasing fibers into the air. No level of expose to Asbestos is safe. Common locations include pipe/furnace insulation, vinyl floor tiles, textured paints, patching compounds, and vermiculite attic insulation. It is often impossible to identify visually unless labeled. Assume materials in homes built before 1980 contain asbestos. Always hire a trained, accredited asbestos professional to test materials if you are remodeling or if materials are damaged. Do not: (1) Saw, sand, scrape, drill, or disturb suspected materials, (2) Sweep or vacuum debris; wet-mop only, and (3) Allow children to play in areas with damaged insulation. Check for damage regularly, such as water damage. Never attempt to remove asbestos yourself. Always use certified asbestos contractors for removal or encapsulation.
We highly recommend that title to rental properties be in the name of a limited liability company LLC. While there are some disadvantages, there are mostly advantages: (1) personal assets are almost always protected from tenant claims and claims of contractors and vendors, (2) an LLC is treated as a pass-through entity for state and federal income taxes, (3) owning rental properties in an LLC creates credibility with lenders and others, (4) It is usually easier to obtain insurance at a competitive cost for properties held in an LLC, and (5) operating agreements can provide maximum flexibility for the individual investors. A real estate attorney can provide all advantages and disadvantages for each form of ownership. See: (1) Holding Title to Real Estate in California. (2) Affordable Living Trusts.
If you are intending to sell your condominium , we recommend that you request that your Realtor review the blog on our website so they can better represent and protect you. There is also a search bar that will assist them in gathering information.
Board members, as well as other association members, are encouraged to review the Articles on this site for valuable information about homeowner associations. Articles are updated as needed and new articles are added regularly. The search bar on the home page will assist you in finding information. Please consider linking your website to ours.
Coast Management of California
818-991-1500