As an Association Manager, I’ve encountered my fair share of unusual situations—but what recently happened in one of our communities was both new and deeply unsettling.

As a frequent user of vendors, contracting for goods and services is an important and large part of community association operations. Community associations need to be careful when considering and entering contracts as the contracting process inherently involves liability and risk. To minimize this risk, community associations should carefully follow a set contracting process and procedure. Effectively leveraging legal counsel is an important part of this process.

Amendments to the Common Interest Community Ombudsman Regulations went into effect August 1, 2025. These amendments change the required association complaint procedure. The changes may appear minor but add clarity and are favorable. 

Developing a community is more than just breaking ground and laying foundations- it’s about shaping an environment where residents feel secure, engaged and invested. As a community manager, navigating new developments requires careful planning, effective communication, and strategic problem-solving to balance progress with sustainability.

The Virginia General Assembly continued to take an interest in the important work of community associates in its 2025 session. We highlight below notable changes that may affect property owners’ associations and condominium unit owner associations.

These changes will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Particular times and events stand out in my mind as I mature (age; I’ll never grow up).  “Dirty Feet” is one of them. In a former life, I often attended meetings at the BASF plant in Anderson, South Carolina. In the lobby hung a banner that read: DIRTFTET. After numerous visits and much brainstorming, I was at a loss in determining its meaning. Not being shy, I finally asked.

As we step into 2025, the community association management industry continues to evolve rapidly. From technological advancements to shifting resident expectations, today’s community managers must be more adaptable, tech-savvy, and forward-thinking than ever before. The days of simply enforcing governing documents and coordinating maintenance are long gone—today’s managers are strategic leaders, financial experts, and customer service professionals all in one.

On Dec. 23rd, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay over the injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas earlier this month, and issued a court order reinstating the January 1, 2025, beneficial ownership information (BOI) filing deadline under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) for applicable community associations required to file under federal statute.

While the recently celebrated Independence Day, that is not the only special occasion this summer. July 1 is the day that most new laws in Virginia take effect. The Virginia Condominium Act (the “Act”) was enacted on July 1, 1974. It superseded the Horizontal Property Act, which was enacted in 1962. Condominiums are purely “creatures of statute” meaning that without the laws permitting them, they would not exist. In other words, they are a legal entity created by statute. The Act is a legislative marvel, crafted by deep thinkers and innovators. It was a new breed. 

The Virginia General Assembly had a busy 2024 session with several changes impacting Virginia community associations. We highlight below the new laws of greatest significance to property owners’ associations and condominium unit owner associations, which take effect July 1, 2024.

This month, the CAI Board of Trustees approved filing a lawsuit to exempt and protect community associations from burdensome requirements outlined in the Corporate Transparency Act. The suit challenging the U.S. Department of Treasury’s restrictive obligations underscores CAI’s unwavering commitment to protecting the community association housing model and its members’ interests.

Tel. Square v. 7205 Tel. Square LLC, 77 Va. App. 375 (April, 2023)

Effective January 1, 2024, most Virginia community associations will be required to comply with the federal Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) and its regulations, unless a community association fits within one of the narrow exemptions to the Act. 

CAI is calling on members and advocates to learn more information about a federal law that has a sweeping impact on most community associations incorporated in the U.S. We need your help to educate Congress about the unintended consequences of this law and urge them to delay implementation and exempt community associations from the requirements.

Tis the season for community association holiday and year-end parties.  With such festive and fun-filled events, come certain responsibilities and measures community association should consider. Below is a list of suggested items that should be reviewed prior to an association-sanctioned or association-hosted holiday party. 

Effective July 1, 2023,  the various resale provisions in the Virginia Property Owners’ Association Act, Condominium Act, and Cooperative Act have been removed and consolidated into a new single act known as the Resale Disclosure Act, which is located in Chapter 23.1 of Title 55.1 of the Virginia Code.  The new Resale Disclosure Act groups resale provisions together for Virginia property owners’ associations, condominium associations, and cooperatives, and collectively refers to them as “resale certificates.”

The past decade has seen an explosion in the popularity of electric vehicles.  All expectations are that this popularity will continue to grow.  There are many makes and models of electric vehicles, and they can be classified as either battery electric vehicles (“BEVs”) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (“PHEVs”)—both of which need to be charged by plugging into an outlet or charging station.  

The General Assembly had a busy session that involved consideration of proposals for new laws that would affect community associations.  The Virginia Legislative Action Committee monitored dozens of bills.  In addition to supporting some legislation, many of the LAC’s efforts are expended in opposing bills that ultimately do not become law or suggesting modifications to proposed legislation.  The LAC’s lobbying team provides subject-matter expertise to legislators in community association policy and insight into how proposed legislation would affect associations and other stakeholders. 

We are on the cusp of Spring, which means Summer is just around the corner. And pool season is the hallmark of Summer. In addition to securing a pool service contractor and/or lifeguards, community associations should consider the broad spectrum of responsibilities and measures related to the pool. Below is our suggested checklist of items for community associations to review well before the start of pool season for maximum protection.