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Rights and Responsibilities for Better Communities Principles
for Hownowners and Community Leaders
Homeowners Have the Right To: - A responsive and competent community
association.
- Honest, fair and respectful treatment by community leaders and managers.
- Participate in governing
the community association by attending meetings, serving on committees and standing for election.
- Access appropriate
association books and records.
- Prudent expenditure of fees and other assessments.
- Live in a community where
the property is maintained according to established standards.
- Fair treatment regarding financial and other association
obligations, including the opportunity to discuss payment plans and options with the association before foreclosure is initiated.
- Receive
all documents that address rules and regulations governing the community association -- if not prior to purchase and settlement
by a real estate agent or attorney, then upon joining the community.
- Appeal to appropriate commmunity leaders those
decisions affecting non-routine financial responsibilities or property rights.
Homeowners Have the Responsibility To: - Read and comply with
the governing documents of the community.
- Maintain their property according to established standards.
- Treat
association leaders honestly and with respect.
- Vote in community elections and on other issues.
- Pay association
assessments and charges on time.
- Contact association leaders or managers, if necessary, to discuss financial obligations
and alternative payment arrangements.
- Request reconsideration of material decisions that personally affect them.
- Provide
current contact information to association leaders or managers to help ensure they receive information from the community.
- Ensure
that those who reside on their property (e.g., tenants, relatives, friends) adhere to all rules and regulations.
Community Leaders Have the Right To: - Expect owners and non-owner
residents to meet their financial obligations to the community.
- Expect residents to know and comply with the rules
and regulations of the community and to stay informed by reading material provided by the association.
- Respectful
and honest treatment from residents.
- Conduct meetings in a positive and constructive atmosphere.
- Receive support
and constructive input from owners and non-owner residents.
- Personal privacy at home and during leisure time in the
community.
- Take advantage of educational opportunities (e.g., publications, training workshops) that are directly
related to their responsibilities, and as approved by the association.
Community Leaders Have the Responsibility To: - Fulfill their
fiduciary duties to the community and exercise discretion in a manner they reasonably believe to be in the best interests
of the community.
- Exercise sound business judgement and follow established management practices.
- Balance the
needs and obligations of the community as a whole with those of individual homeowners and residents.
- Understand the
association's governing documents and become educated with respect to applicable state and local laws, and to manage the
community association accordingly.
- Establish committees or use other methods to obtain input from owners and non-owner
residents.
- Conduct open, fair and well-published elections.
- Welcome and educate new members of the community
-- owners and non-owner residents alike.
- Encourage input from residents on issues affecting them personally and the
community as a whole.
- Encourage events that foster neighborliness and a sense of community.
- Conduct business
in a transparent manner when feasible and appropriate.
- Allow homeowners access to appropriate community records, when
requested.
- Collect all monies due from owners and non-owner residents.
- Devise appropriate and reasonable arrangements,
when needed and as feasible, to facilitate the ability of individual homeowners to meet their financial obligations to the
community.
- Provide a process residents can use to appeal decisions affecting their non-routine financial responsibilities
or property rights -- where permitted by law and the association's governing documents.
- Initiate foreclosure proceedings
only as a measure of last resort.
- Make covenants, conditions and restrictions as understandable as possible, adding
clarifying "lay" language or supplementary materials when drafting or revising the documents.
- Provide complete
and timely disclosure of personal and financial conflicts of interest related to the actions of community leaders, e.g., officers,
the board and committees. (Community associations may want to develop a code of ethics.)
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JBCA, 275 Palm Ave., D-105 * Jupiter * FL * 33477 * Phone: (561) 746-5857 Fax: (561) 575-4334
Website Development by Paul St.Clair
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