As the Maryland lawmakers return to work they will revisit the following issues that were debated in prior years:
1.
Manager Licensing – Virginia does have manager licensing. Licensing sounds appropriate for the growing industry, but the cost to run the program has been too high for the state to consider. Managers should consider continuing educational courses through the Community Association Institute or the Institute of Real Estate Management. This will ensure that everyone is staying up-to-date on the best practices and will make it is easier to obtain a license if the regulation passes.
2. Increasing Insurance Deductibles for condo homeowners that are the point of origin for a loss – Currently, condominiums can only assess $5,000 of a deductible to the owner where a loss starts.
3. Mandatory Reserve Studies – Associations are aging and regular maintenance is being deferred. Associations should have a reserve study that guides them in maintenance and budgeting, allowing for the fiscal health of an association.
The New Topic of Talk:
The big issue that has not been brought before the legislature previously, is the suspension of owner’s use of common property when delinquent. Courts decided in 2017 that board’s could not adopt rules stopping unit owners who are delinquent from using common property, including pools, clubhouses, and parking areas. Associations have found the ability to limit access to common areas a useful tool in the collection of assessments and are hopeful that the legislators will reverse the courts decision.
Community Association Institute has a Maryland Legislative Action Committee who can help keep you up to date on all issues affecting associations in Maryland.
Want to learn more or watch the legislature at work? Click here.
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