If you are a condo owner, or in the process of becoming one, chances are you’ll eventually be invited to a condo board meeting. Before attending one of these meetings, it’s important to understand why they exist and how they operate.
Overview of a Condo Board Meeting
When you purchase a condominium unit, you automatically become a member of a homeowner association and are expected to pay regular membership dues.
This association is run by an elected board of directors, which handles the maintenance and repair of common areas, disputing among unit owners, and enforcement of rules and regulations, and condominium fees.
This association board is required to arrange condo board meetings because it operates as a corporation and therefore needs to meet with its officers and shareholders- in this case, board members and homeowners.
The condo board meetings allocate regular time for the board to manage the day-to-day administration of the condo association.
Things New Condo Owners Should Know
If you’ve recently purchased a condo unit and you’re new to the association, there are a couple of things to keep in mind about condo board meetings.
First, before attending a scheduled meeting, ensure that it’s not a “closed-door” meeting for board directors only. However, in most cases, unit owners are legally allowed to attend open board meetings.
Even if the meeting is open to the entire association, you may not have the right to actively participate or vote during the board meeting. Annual meetings are designated at another time during the year to open up the floor to all members of the association to discuss broader issues.
Condo associations are always required to send out a notice at least 48 hours before a condo board meeting.These notices need to be mailed directly to all members of the association. They are also often posted around the condominium building.
As a new condo owner, it may be in your interest to attend these condo board meetings, although they aren’t required. Being present for these conversations can help you stay up to speed with board decisions that may directly improve your quality of life and the value of your property.
These meetings can also help you better prepare for the annual meetings when your voice can be heard, and you have the ability to vote on important matters.
Additional Resources
For additional information regarding your condo board meetings, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your association’s board directly. You can also request access to your association’s board policies.
If you’re in the process of finding a condo, your licensed broker is a great resource to learn more about your prospective condo association and its board meetings.
Connect with our experienced team today to help streamline the search for the perfect condo!
