Last week we focused on board resolutions. Now it’s the owners’ turn. Most condo and HOA disputes start with skipped rules, personal reactions to enforcement, or not participating until there’s a problem. Living in an association means shared responsibility. Read the documents, stay engaged, pay on time, and address issues early. Follow the process and most conflicts never turn into legal ones.

For years, condo and HOA boards handled meetings the same way… vote first, let owners speak at the end. An arbitration ruling just declared that practice unreasonable and contrary to the law. Owners must be allowed to comment on agenda items before a vote happens, otherwise their right to speak is meaningless. This decision changes how board meetings will be run and sends a clear warning to HOAs with similar policies.