Together we can make a difference in how HOA's are managed.
Tell me your story.
Becky Cole
612-567-3631
Welcome
There is no real consistency in how homeowner associations are required to be managed. Municipalities will establish them, but won't take responsibility for how they are run. This leaves homeowners vulnerable to the whims of the board and management companies.
Examples of Challenges Faced By Homeowners
Minnesota Women's Press Commentary
Minnesota Reformer Article on Otsego Association
Minnesota Reformer Article on Otsego Association
Minnesota Reformer Article on Otsego Association
Minnesota Reformer Article on Otsego Association
Minnesota Reformer Article on Otsego Association
Fox9 News on Rogers Association
Minnesota Reformer Article on Otsego Association
Fox9 News on Rogers Association
Why This Matters
Financial Risk
Who does the board work for?
Who does the board work for?
Purposeful or not, mismanagement of an association by the board of directors, can lead to financial challenges for the homeowner.
For example, in the span of 18 months, my dues were raised three times and I had to pay more for my personal insurance two times. Yet, there has been no transparency for the justification of this, or for how they arrived at the conclusion that we needed to pay for a shed so we could store feed to feed the birds that the DNR says should be left alone.
Our association also pays for employee theft coverage, even though we have no employees. When I asked the insurance company about the conflict of interest this creates for homeowners, the first response was a pat on the head and being told "it's industry standard." When I pursued it, they called the police to try to get a restraining order on me to get me to stop asking questions they didn't want to answer.
Who does the board work for?
Who does the board work for?
Who does the board work for?
Way too often, board of directors come on board with no real training or understanding about what are their legal responsibilities in running the association as a nonprofit organization.
For example, the management company for our association does not allow the board to even communicate with the members and you will never see a board member's signature on any documentation regarding the association.
The homeowners are expected to vote for the board members, but yet the purpose of the board is to enforce the CCRs. CCRs are established by the municipality before any homes are sold, so it begs the question of how the board benefits the homeowners when they are actually there to do the work of the municipality.
Our board president has never been on the ballot. He was appointed by the management company.
Third Party Accountability
Who does the board work for?
Third Party Accountability
Because board members come and go, and are often untrained in how to run a legally compliant organization, it is important to have a third party that isn't a management company be able to be involved.
Homeowners need some kind of regulatory authority that can hold boards and management companies accountable for their conduct.
This not only provides a way for the board to be effective, but also provides protection for the homeowners.
For example, our board chair proudly admitted he manipulated a vote to raise the dues, and lied that there was some law that allowed him to do that. You would hope that integrity would matter to the other board members, but instead they just sat back and cheered him on.
Together We Can Make a Difference
Tell Your Story
Your voice is important. In order to change the law, we need your story about how you have been impacted by your association.
Join Us at the Capitol
In 2024, the Minnesota Legislature convened a workgroup to make recommendations for new laws to be implemented in 2025. Tell me your story and tell your legislators you want things to be different.
Share Your Resources
If you have found a resource to be useful, share it so that others can benefit from it, as well.
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