Gov. Malloy Signs Important Condo Laws Friday
In what has the potential to be a major victory for condo owners in Connecticut, Gov. Malloy signed legislation Friday that would give the state more power to discipline property managers who violate state condo laws.
Prior to this legislation – Public Act 13-289 – the state Department of Consumer Protection could only take action against property managers if they committed some impropriety with association finances.
Giving the Consumer Protection department additional powers to regulate property managers was proposed by the CCOC. The Community Association Institute of Connecticut agreed to support the proposal as long as the violations investigated are “knowing and material.”
The Public Act goes into effect Oct. 1.
If the Consumer Protection Department fully enforces this law, disgruntled condo owners will finally have a place to file a complaint against condo managers who violate state condo laws.
The Act also requires condo associations to make available agendas of regularly scheduled board of directors meetings to condo owners 48 hours prior to the meetings.
At many associations agendas are only provided to unit owners the night of the meeting.
Another section of the Act requires associations to make available to unit owners detailed financial records of reserve accounts.
And, the Act clarifies how associations must draw up proxies to prevent board members from having an unfair advantage.
To read the full Act click below.
Does a proxy vote have to be cast by a unit owner of the condominium. Is it legal for the property manager to vote with an owner’s proxy?
Property managers cannot vote for a unit owner or promote unit owners to vote for a specific condo owner member that is campaigning to get on the board. It appears the only time a property manager can vote on behalf of other condo owners is because they own a condo in your complex. However, read your bylaws because there may be something in there where if a property manager is a condo owner in your complex; that they may not have the right to vote on the behalf of other condo owners in your complex. If there isn’t anything in your bylaws about property managers who are condo owners regarding voting. Talk to your board, property management company, CCOC, a lawyer to resolute your bylaws or amend your bylaws. Unit owners can vote to amend bylaws. We have an article in our condo bylaws where we can amend bylaws and boy are we on it. Our board is not unit owner friendly! Enough is Enough!!!
this sounds like Farmington Woods
We suppose to be a self manage associacion but the manager decide on his own salary and make all desicion by himself and he don’t give the board a report of how he spend the money or how much money the association gets for common fee he and his mother the president keep everything confidential to them self this is wrong and units owners need a fair trade and not get abuse we have mold issues and the building is in bad shape somebody help us to run the property in a fair proper way I have been fixing water leack damages with my money for years the manager collect the condo fee but no improvement in the property I wonder were the money goes?
something is wrong here. you can’t be self managed and have a manager. you need to get that clarified.
Feels like one and many more victories to come regarding CT Condo Laws Proposed!!!! Thank you!!!
Thank you, George, CCOC and all involved for making this happen. Brava!
Can board members take unit owners proxys and count the votes in a private?
This was done last month voting on a contractor to fix the roofs or to get a new roof. The contractor was also selected. It was done by the condo association. We are self managed. We are 18 units. The vote was to repair the roofs instead of new roofs. The vote was 7 to 11, in favor of repair.
Thanks!
This month we had annual meeting, my wife an three others ran for the board. My wife went around getting proxys. The board had a small meeting before hand and picked the two people they wanted to see on the board. When t6he meeting started the board got the two they wanted. One board member was holding 40 proxys to help the two they wanted Its not fare is legal
If our condominium association fees and assessments are based on Square Footage do units that claim bonus room Square footage be excempt. IF SO WHAT CAN WE DO A OUT IT.Unit pays on1444sf but have 1700sf.