The Department of Consumer Protection provides credentials to Community Association Managers (CAM) and Community Association Manager Trainees. Consumers are can file a complaint against a third party condominium association manager if they feel they are violating their license.
Community Association Managers (CAMs) are agents of the board, not decision-makers, unless they are contractually delegated. Issues often occur when the roles of the Homeowner Association and the CAM are undefined.
Here are the most common complaints that DCP receives about Homeowner Association Management (HOA):
- Poor Communication: Some complaints include lack of transparency about decisions and finances, slow to no response to owner inquires, inconsistent messaging, and failure to notify owners about meetings, assessments, or rule changes.
- Financial Mismanagement: Owners claimed there was inaccurate or delayed financial reporting, poor budget, underfunded reserves, failure to collect assessments consistently, and alleged misuse of funds.
- Inconsistent Enforcement: Reports alleged that managers did not enforce rules fairly and failure to follow due process in violation notices.
- Conflicts of Interest: Red flags include undisclosed relationships with service providers, improper incentives, self-dealing in maintenance or repair decisions, and favoring preferred vendors.
- Overstepping authority: Some issues may include that the manager is making policy decisions without board approval, deny architectural applications without prior approval, or interpret governing documents beyond their role.
- Lack of oversight: Owners reported that management failed to follow up on maintenance, had inadequate supervision of vendors, poor meeting preparation, and were managing too many associations at once.
- Regulatory and Compliance Failures: Compliance problems include failure to cooperate with investigation, incomplete records, improper notice procedures, violations of fair house laws, and mishandling complaints.
Want to learn more? Review state law about Community Association Managers