“Holidays in Community Associations” – KSN attorney Sabina Arutyunyan discusses navigating holidays in community associations. Topics include package deliveries, parking, lights, decorations, and more. (8 mins.)
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Episode Transcription
You’re listening to the KSN Podcast, and on this episode, we discuss navigating the holiday season in community associations.
Welcome to the KSN podcast, where you’ll hear from KSN attorneys as they share their experience and insight on legal issues surrounding community association law, collections, landlord tenant law, and property tax appeals. In this episode, KSN attorney Sabina Artunyan discusses navigating the holiday season in community associations.
Topics include board member responsibilities, lighting and signage regulations, parking management, noise complaints, package deliveries, and more. The full presentation including the video is available exclusively on Brainy Board. Here’s a short introduction on Brainy Board before we get to today’s topic.
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Hi all, my name is Sabina Artinian and I’m an attorney here with KSN. And in this short episode, I want to discuss navigating the holiday season and community associations.
I’m talking about Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and other cultural or religious holidays. and how board members and property managers address issues that seem to pop up during the season such as lighting, decorating, and managing parking. So let’s start with managing package deliveries. We see this come up primarily in condo buildings, whether it’s a few units or a large downtown high rise.
With online shopping at its peak during the holiday season, condominium buildings often face an influx of packages. So what are a few best practices? Designating dedicated package storage areas. Notifying residents about best practices for package pickup to prevent overcrowding. adding temporary package handling staff or volunteers to manage increased package delivery and storage, and utilizing third party service package drop off and pickups.
Next is snow removal and ice management. In areas impacted by snow, ice, and freezing temperatures, Inclement weather combined with increased community visitors can pose safety concerns. So here are two best practices. One, confirm the availability of the association’s snow removal services, especially in anticipation of high traffic periods.
And two, issue reminders to association members about being cautious when walking in parking lots and pathways. Additionally, you’ll want to ensure that snow is removed. Snow and ice removal vendor contracts have been reviewed by the association’s attorney to ensure that the agreement address potential property damage claims, insurance coverage, and don’t open the community up to liability.
The third holiday consideration concerns, lights, decorations, and signs. Many of the associations we work with have regulations that address design, for example, signs of flashing lights that are disruptive to neighbors. Size, for example, signs that are too large that can be disruptive and potentially dangerous.
And third is location, for example, avoiding holiday decorations on utility poles or lights that have exposed electric cords that can be a tripping hazard, especially if they extend into the walkways and sidewalks. Next up are parking rules and visitor management. So during the holidays, residents often have more family, friends, and visitors which can increase demand for parking in a homeowners association or assign parking spaces in a townhome community. So, it’s important that we remind residents to inform their guests about association parking rules. This could extend to visitor parking spaces or loading and unloading zones if people are dropping off gifts.
Next up are noise complaints. The holiday season is a time of celebration, which often means more social gatherings and parties. These events can also lead to noise issues that disrupt neighbors and potentially lead to conflicts within the association. Before the holiday season kicks off, boards should consider setting reminders about existing noise policies, which can include quiet hours and acceptable noise levels.
We also encourage homeowners to inform their immediate neighbors if they plan on hosting a holiday gathering that may exceed normal noise levels. A simple notice can go a long way in preventing misunderstandings. All of these issues really come down to being proactive and having good communication with homeowners and vendors alike.
If you’re planning ahead and communicating with your fellow owners and your professional team, hopefully it’ll make for a less stressful holiday season. Again, my name is Sabine Artagnan and I’m an attorney here with KSN. Please reach out if you have any questions about holiday decoration. Regulations, owner disputes, or any legal issues.
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Please note the material contained on the KSN podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney client relationship is established by your review or receipt of the information contained on the KSN podcast.
You should not act on the information discussed on the KSN podcast without first obtaining legal advice from an attorney duly licensed to practice law in your state. While KSN has made every effort to include up to date information on the KSN podcast, the law can change quickly. Accordingly, please understand information discussed on the podcast may not yet reflect the most recent legal developments. Material is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date.
KSN reserves the right to revise or update the information and statements of law discussed on the podcast at any time, without notice, and disclaims any liability for your use of information or statements of law discussed on the podcast or the performance of the podcast generally. The KSN podcast may be considered advertising in some jurisdictions under applicable laws and ethical rules or regulations.
Please note the material contained on the KSN Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established by your review or receipt of the information contained on the KSN Podcast. You should not act on the information discussed on the KSN Podcast without first obtaining legal advice from an attorney duly licensed to practice law in your State. While KSN has made every effort to include up-to-date information on The KSN podcast, the law can change quickly. Accordingly, please understand that information discussed on the podcast may not yet reflect the most recent legal developments. Material is not guaranteed to be correct, complete, or up to date. KSN reserves the right to revise or update the information and statements of law discussed on the podcast at any time, without notice, and disclaims any liability for your use of information or statements of law discussed on the podcast, or the performance of the podcast generally. The KSN Podcast may be considered advertising in some jurisdictions under applicable law/s and/or ethical rules/regulations. © 2024 Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit, A Professional Corporation.