and authority to other association members to act on their behalf in maintaining common elements.


Division of Responsibilities


Using ownership as a baseline to determine responsibility, it becomes easy to recognize what an association would assist with and what it would not. A lightbulb replacement inside a home? That is the homeowner’s responsibility. A pothole in a community road? Likely an association responsibility. A flood in a single-family home? Most often it will be homeowner responsibility. Your tenant is late on rent? The tenant is renting from a homeowner and therefore, the homeowner is responsible for rent collection. More complicated questions may arise when there is damage to several different types of elements, such as a water leak originating in one unit which passes through a wall and damages a neighboring unit. In these instances, the association manager will be your expert. They can evaluate the governing documents to provide guidance regarding responsibility and advise the board to seek a legal opinion if warranted.


So, managers, what would you say ya do here? In the end, the truth is your responsibilities vary as widely as the association’s responsibilities.


If an issue arises within a community, and responsibility is not clear, the community’s association manager is a great resource.


Advisor To The Board


At their core, managers act as advisers to the board and are experts within the community association management industry. They are not likely changing light bulbs, nor are they collecting rent. The specific tasks they undertake depend on the governing documents of the association, the law under which it was incorporated, the board’s preferences, and the agreement between the association and its manager or management firm. Understanding the structure of a community association helps clarify, and maybe even provide a starting point for community members and managers alike. If an issue arises within a community, and responsibility is not clear, the community’s association manager is a great resource. They may not have all the answers, but they are best equipped to seek out the answer and provide clear guidance to everyone.


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