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.
The Benefits for Condominium and Townhouse Communities
In multi-family communities such as condominiums and townhouses, efficient waste management is a core part of maintaining safety, cleanliness, and resident satisfaction. One service model gaining renewed interest is hand pickup trash service—a system where residents place their trash in designated community areas on scheduled days for collection by a professional team.
Playgrounds are a wonderful addition to any neighborhood. Playgrounds help foster a sense of community by giving residents a convenient way to connect with neighbors while their children play and burn off energy—often year-round, thanks to Virginia's mild weather. Most importantly, playgrounds offer a space for kids to take risks and explore boundaries safely.
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 It superseded the Horizontal Property Act, which was enacted in 1962.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.
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.
Neighbor to neighbor disputes seem to be at an all-time high right now. Many times, the neighbors are trying to bring the Association into these battles. In order to best utilize the Association’s assets, Boards and managers must recognize when it is appropriate for the Association to engage, and when to stay out of the conflict.
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.
