Community Associations

Newsletters

new November 26, 2025
November 2025 Newsletter – Books and Records Requests and Document Retention
By: R.A. Hurley, Marissa B. Kelberman
Community associations are required to maintain books, minutes, and records that directly relate to an association matter or association business. Virginia, Maryland, and the ...
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September 16, 2025
September 2025 E-Newsletter –Annual Meetings
By: Renee N. Hayes, Winta Mengisteab, Claudia Rafi
It’s that time of year…yes, Halloween decorations are already on display, but no, we are referring to the fall annual meeting season, which can be difficult to ...
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September 12, 2025
2025 District of Columbia Legislative Update
By: Leslie S. Brown, Ruhi Mirza
Over the last couple of years, the D.C. City Council has not taken much action that directly affects communities in the District of Columbia. However, this year, there are some ...
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July 24, 2025
July 2025 Community Association Newsletter - Enforcement of Covenants and Rules and Regulations
“If You Obey All The Rules, You Miss All The Fun” - Katharine Hepburn Enforcement of Covenants and Rules and Regulations Breaking the rules can be ...
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June 17, 2025
June 2025 E-Newsletter - Maryland 2025 Legislative Update
By: Hillary Anne Collins, Nicole A. Williams
2025 MARYLAND LEGISLATIVE UPDATE This year’s legislative session was consumed by the budget and the structural deficit that the legislature faced due to a number of ...
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June 03, 2025
June 2025 E-Newsletter – Virginia Legislative Update
By: Kathleen N. Machado, Kelly Zook Sweeney
It was a busy legislative session for the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond this year with over 2,634 bills introduced and 822 bills passed. Below is a summary of some of ...
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March 25, 2025
March 2025 E-Newsletter – Electric Vehicle Chargers in Community Associations
By: Leslie S. Brown, Mariana R. Teran
In 2024, the United States hit a record high for sales of electric vehicles (“EVs”). Kelley Blue Book reported that 1.3 million EVs were sold in 2024 alone. This ...
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January 23, 2025
January 2025 Newsletter - Optimizing Community Communications
By: Ursula Koenig Burgess, Jessica Lawless–barnes
Communication is a basic function of everyday life and effective communication can sometimes be the difference between a bad day, a good day, and a great day. Communication in ...
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September 25, 2024
September 2024 - Community Associations Newsletter - Resales, Lender Questionnaires, and the “Ineligible Projects” List
By: Winta Mengisteab
As community associations continue to adapt to new resale requirements, lengthy lender questionnaires, and the dreaded “blacklist” of projects deemed ineligible ...
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August 23, 2024
September 2024 - Community Associations Newsletter - Building Energy Performance Standards In D.C. And Maryland
By: Winta Mengisteab
As you may know, the District of Columbia and Maryland have adopted Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) that apply to many of our condominium clients.  In ...
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May 22, 2024
May 2024 - Community Associations Newsletter - Virginia Legislative Update 2024
By: Kathleen N. Machado, Kelly Zook Sweeney
The 2024 Virginia legislative session was a busy one! Over 3,500 bills were introduced in the session and many of them impacted community associations in some way. A summary of ...
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May 22, 2024
May 2024 - Community Associations Newsletter - Maryland 2024 Legislative Update
By: Hillary Anne Collins, Nicole A. Williams
There were many bills surrounding affordable housing this session and, of course, clean energy initiatives; some of which passed, and others did not. The following bills passed ...
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March 29, 2024
April 2024 - Community Associations Newsletter - Foreclosures - What are an Association's Options
By: R.A. Hurley, Luke A. McQueen
Foreclosure of a home or unit is an option for recovering assessments. The laws governing foreclosure options have evolved and been tweaked by legislatures over the last few ...
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January 19, 2024
January 2024 - Community Associations Newsletter - Diagnosing the Current Insurance Market
By: Leslie S. Brown, Patrick J. Roche
Rising premiums? Water damage deductibles? Excess and surplus markets?  If you are concerned about ailments in the community association insurance market, you are not ...
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November 22, 2023
November 2023 - Community Associations Newsletter - Is that a bird or a plane?…Regulating Drone Use in a Community
By: Ruhi Mirza, Mariana R. Teran
Drone Regulations The use of drones throughout the country has become prevalent over the last ten years. This has caused both Congress and various states to adopt laws and ...
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July 27, 2023
July 2023 - Community Associations Newsletter - Maintenance Issues
By: Winta Mengisteab
We often receive questions regarding an association’s maintenance, repair, and replacement obligations. For example, who is responsible for maintaining, repairing, or ...
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May 31, 2023
June 2023 - Community Associations Newsletter - 2023 Virginia Legislative Updates
By: Kelly Zook Sweeney
In contrast to last year, the 2023 legislative session was extremely active, with the General Assembly passing a number of significant bills that affect Common Interest ...
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May 31, 2023
June 2023 - Community Associations Newsletter - 2023 Maryland Legislative Update
By: Hillary Anne Collins, Nicole A. Williams
This legislative session felt like the Annapolis that we all knew before the pandemic with in-person hearings, folks roaming the halls and students visiting the state house for ...
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April 03, 2023
April 2023 - Community Associations Newsletter - Quick Tips for Contract Review
By: Ursula Koenig Burgess, Jessica Lawless–barnes
Contracts are intended to define the agreement of the parties and to establish expectations regarding performance. Once signed, they form the legal terms by which the parties ...
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February 01, 2023
February 2023 - Community Associations Newsletter - Anti-Discrimination and Accommodation Request Resolutions
By: Erik W. Fox, Kimberley O'Halloran Perez
As you are cleaning the house to get ready for the new year, please do not forget to take a look at your association’s resolutions. If they are more than five years ...
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November 27, 2022
November 2022 - Community Associations Newsletter - Motion to Move into Executive Session
By: Ruhi Mirza, Mariana R. Teran
There are times when it is necessary for a community association’s board of directors to meet in closed session, also known as executive session. The Condominium Acts in ...
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September 28, 2022
September 2022 - Community Associations Newsletter - Membership Meetings
By: Kristen Buck, R.A. Hurley
Whether your property is in Virginia, Maryland, or D.C., your association is required to call at least one membership meeting a year. While membership meetings may seem ...
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July 19, 2022
July 2022 – Community Associations Newsletter – 2022 VA Legislative Update
By: Kelly Zook Sweeney
The 2022 legislative session was extremely quiet, with the General Assembly approving only a few bills that affect Property Owners’ and Condominium Associations. The ...
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June 01, 2022
June 2022 - Community Associations Newsletter – MD Legislative Update
By: Nicole A. Williams
This legislative session was certainly a hybrid to say the least. Both chambers met in person. The Senate held their committee and voting hearings in person while most of the ...
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March 23, 2022
March 2022 Community Associations Newsletter– Confused About Lender Questionnaires Regarding Deferred Maintenance? You’re Not Alone
By: Leslie S. Brown
“Does the project include deferred maintenance that is severe enough to affect the safety, soundness, structural integrity, or habitability of the ...
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January 31, 2022
February 2022 Community Associations Newsletter– Surveillance Cameras In Your Association
By: Kathleen N. Machado, Winta Mengisteab
Surveillance cameras are everywhere! As evidenced by social media, which is replete with both funny and scary footage captured on home surveillance cameras, these devices have ...
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November 23, 2021
November 2021 Community Associations Newsletter – Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
By: Hillary Anne Collins, Ruhi Mirza
It is becoming more common to find yourself next to a Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf, or Tesla Model S in traffic. . . and perhaps in the parking lot of your ...
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September 27, 2021
September 2021 - Community Associations Newsletter - Are you Ready for Electronic Meetings?
By: R.A. Hurley
By Rasneek Gujral and R.A. Hurley As discussed in our prior Maryland and Virginia legislative updates, both legislatures have adopted permanent solutions allowing for more ...
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July 22, 2021
July 2021 - Community Associations Newsletter - Surfside Florida – Let’s Focus on Reserve Studies
By: Leslie S. Brown, Nicole A. Williams
The tragic, sudden collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium building in Surfside, Florida has rocked the community association industry to its core.  Architects and ...
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May 25, 2021
May 2021 Virginia Legislative Update
By: Kelly Zook Sweeney
During its 2021 legislative session, the General Assembly approved a number of bills that affect Property Owners’ and Condominium Associations. The legislation addressed in ...
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May 14, 2021
May 2021 Community Associations Newsletter – Maryland Legislative Update
By: Nicole A. Williams
Virtual Meetings and Basketball Hoops! This legislative session was the most transparent and accessible session ever. However, between the constant Zoom committee ...
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March 31, 2021
April 2021 Community Associations Newsletter – Collections During a Pandemic
By: Kristen Buck
Community associations are facing increased costs for complying with the cleaning and social distancing protocols required to reopen offices, common areas, and amenities. These ...
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February 08, 2021
February 2021 - Community Associations Newsletter
By: Jessica Lawless–barnes
Anti-Social Media in the Dis-Information Age It is easy to see that the popularity of social media and other online platforms has skyrocketed. Their quick and efficient ...
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December 03, 2020
December 2020 E-Newsletter – Tree Law
By: Erik W. Fox
As stewards of association common areas and resources, Boards and managers often face various questions involving trees owned by the Association. As such, a general ...
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October 01, 2020
October 2020 - Community Associations Newsletter
By: Ruhi Mirza
Neighbor to neighbor disputes seem to be at an all-time high right now.  Many times, the neighbors are trying to bring the Association in to these battles.  In order to best ...
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July 24, 2020
July 2020 - Community Associations Newsletter
By: Hillary Anne Collins, Winta Mengisteab
Building off the Governing Documents: Essential Policy Resolutions for Community Associations
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June 16, 2020
June 2020 E-newsletter – Maryland Legislative Update
By: Nicole A. Williams
Deductible Relief! Mortgagee Approval? Nicole A. Williams, Esq. Peter S. Philbin, Esq. This legislative session was certainly different than those in the past. Over 2700 ...
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June 15, 2020
June 2020 E-Newsletter – Virginia Legislative Update
By: Kelly Zook Sweeney
During its 2020 legislative session, the General Assembly approved a number of bills that create changes to the Property Owners’ Association Act (“POAA”), the ...
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March 04, 2020
Coronavirus and Your Community
By: Leslie S. Brown
The Coronavirus (Covid-19) is on everyone’s minds. While, right now, there are no known reported cases in the Washington, D.C. area, experts believe that it is not a ...
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January 31, 2020
Books, Records, & Document Retention. Oh My!
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January 02, 2020
2019 MD Legislative Update
By: Nicole A. Williams
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November 25, 2019
HOA Insurance Obligations
By: Leslie S. Brown
Reprinted from “Ask the Experts," Common Ground, September-October 2019. 
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June 19, 2019
Community Associations Newsletter June 2019
By: Kelly Zook Sweeney
2019 Legislative Updates
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September 01, 2018
Community Associations ​Newsletter September 2018
Maryland Legislative Update
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June 01, 2018
Community Associations ​Newsletter June 2018
Virginia Legislative Update
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November 01, 2017
Community Associations ​Newsletter November 2017
Maryland Legislative Update During its 2017 legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly approved a number of bills that were signed into law affecting community ...
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June 01, 2017
Community Associations ​Newsletter June 2017
By: Kelly Zook Sweeney
Virginia Legislative Update
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June 01, 2016
Community Associations Newsletter June 2016
By: Kathleen N. Machado
Virginia Legislative Update
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May 27, 2016
Howard B. Silberberg, et. al. Plaintiffs, v. Joanne S. Becker., et al., Defendants.
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April 19, 2016
Attack of the Drones - Webinar
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwVOGngGpH1dNE9MVG5ZUmdVTVk/view
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February 01, 2016
Towing Enforcement, Signs, Etc...
legislative Alert Montgomery County, Md
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July 15, 2015
Community Association Webinar
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwVOGngGpH1dMFA3RUZReldoQTg/view 2015 Virginia Legislative Update (.wmv download)
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July 01, 2015
Community Associations Newsletter July 2015
Maryland Legislative Update
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June 06, 2015
Community Association Webinar
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwVOGngGpH1dVG5vOTB0bVRMUjQ/view 2015 Maryland Legislative Update (.wmv download)
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June 04, 2015
SPECTRA-4, LLP, et. al. v. Uniwest Commercial Realty, Inc.
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May 01, 2015
Community Associations Newsletter May 2015
Virginia Legislative Update
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February 03, 2015
Shenandoah Corporation, Plaintiff, v. Joanne Becker, et al., Defendants.
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