One of the most frequent questions we receive is whether it is “OK,” “allowed,” or “legal” for homeowners associations or condominiums to open their pool this spring. Every community is different and boards of directors will have to make the decision to open based on several factors, including the type of community, whether that community has the resources to comply with CDC and local guidelines, and whether it can comply with any state requirements that may apply. Each board of directors must make its decision based on its best business judgment after appropriate due diligence. Just because the state or the … Continue reading →

As the weather begins to warm and the sun shows its face a little longer each day, many homeowners start to consider the option of installing solar panels on their property to take advantage of those rays. With legislative changes in the past few years, South Carolina has become a more welcoming state for solar companies. As a result, many homeowners associations (both single family communities and townhomes) have started seeing more and more applications from homeowners to install some type of solar panel technology on their property. Up to now there has not been any sort of state law … Continue reading →

Like everyone else in South Carolina, I’ve kept an eye on the latest developments from the court system to see when things can return to normal.  On April 30th the Chief Justice for the South Carolina Supreme Court updated the previous March 18th Order relating to foreclosure cases.  Among other things, the new April 30th Order provides that “Master-in-Equity courts statewide shall resume foreclosure hearings, foreclosure sales, issuing writs of assistance and writs of ejectments, and proceed in any other manner regarding foreclosures beginning May 15, 2020.”  What that means for your homeowners association is that certain collections cases that … Continue reading →

Whether your community chooses to keep its common areas open or closed is a matter of discretion and all HOA / Condo boards in South Carolina must use their best business judgment to make that determination. Over the past two days South Carolina has reopened some retail establishments, beaches, and state parks.  Although the State has not seen a significant downward trend in coronavirus cases for 14 days (as the White House recommended) Governor McMaster was comfortable reopening, relying instead on professional opinions in South Carolina and the fact that people seem to be complying with social distancing.  A copy … Continue reading →

Effective April 7, 2020, at 5:00 pm, South Carolina will join most other states with statewide “stay at home” orders.  Governor Henry McMaster referred to the order as a “home or work” order that would require people to stay home if they are not at work or tending to essential needs.  A copy of the South Carolina Governor’s full order is here.  The order does not close more businesses than had previously been closed, but did create additional limits on how many customers can be inside a store at any given time.  According to his order, all stores must limit … Continue reading →

My community association practice is split between North Carolina and South Carolina.  One of the primary differences between the law in these two states is the fact that North Carolina has a comprehensive HOA statute while South Carolina does not.  I’ve written more than once about the need for a comprehensive HOA statue in South Carolina.  While there are many nuances that make the laws in each state unique, one that I deal with frequently is the enforcement method for covenant violations.  Most covenants authorize “an action at law or in equity” as a method for the association to enforce … Continue reading →

With everyone on high alert because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) we get a number of questions every day about how community associations (HOAs and condos) should react and what should be done.  One of the questions we’ve received a lot lately is whether the association should close its common areas.  The answer, as with most legal things, is “it depends.”  First, most community associations are nonprofit corporations and are obligated to do whatever any state or local government or health department has said should be done.  For a great discussion on general steps your community should take to deal with … Continue reading →

The annual Expo and Law Day of the South Carolina Chapter of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) will be held Thursday, January 9, 2020 in Myrtle Beach at the Sports Convention Center (2115 Farlow Street).  Attendees will include community association professionals and community leaders from across South Carolina. David Wilson with Law Firm Carolinas will be featured at 4:00 during a Q & A session to wrap up the educational sessions being offered.   The full schedule and registration information can be found at the 2020 SC CAI Expo and Law Day page.

With the recent decision in Winrose Homeowners’ Association, Inc. v. Hale the South Carolina Supreme Court proved that it is past time for a comprehensive HOA statute in South Carolina.  For more in-depth analysis of the Court’s decision, see our earlier article. Suffice it to say, throughout its decision the Court expressed discomfort with some practices that have grown up surrounding HOA foreclosures in this state.  But it is important to note what it did not say as well.  The Court did not say that HOAs could not foreclose.  In fact, it specifically stated that the HOA in this case … Continue reading →

At Law Firm Carolinas, P.A., we closely monitor pending legislation that could affect our HOA and condominium clients.  One federal bill that may impact many communities, especially those near the coast or in locations where storm damage is more likely, is the Disaster Assistance Equity Act.  This bill was just introduced as H.R. 5337 in the House and would extend disaster relief funds to community associations where that relief was not previously available.  H.R. 5337 appears to have bipartisan support, making it more likely to eventually be signed into law in some fashion. According to the Community Association Institute (“CAI”), … Continue reading →

For years North Carolina has followed the national trend of promoting and encouraging green technology and cleaner and more efficient ways of producing energy.  For homeowners associations, the trend has been for state legislatures to create laws allowing installation of solar collectors, regardless of what the HOA may say.  Some states have required HOAs to allow installation under all circumstances, while other states have limited an HOA’s ability to deny an application to install a solar collector to certain specific instances.  For an overview of the current solar laws in North Carolina and how they impact your homeowners association, take … Continue reading →

A South Carolina solar bill that was signed into law by Governor Henry McMaster in May this year might have impacts on your homeowners association by increasing the number of property owners looking to install some sort of solar technology on their property.  Since most HOAs have architectural approval procedures for changes to properties, that means that more and more solar applications are going to be submitted for approval. Solar panels, solar shingles, and other solar collectors are increasingly popular options in homeowners associations.  It is no secret that our country, our states, and our local governments are all looking … Continue reading →

At Law Firm Carolinas we keep track of legal trends and recent case law that impacts our HOA and condo clients.  Although it is a case out of Virginia, the decision in Sainani v. Belmont Glen Homeowners Association, Inc. highlights three important themes that HOAs in North Carolina and South Carolina should be aware of:  (1) there is a difference between rules and regulations and restrictive covenants, (2) the specific wording in covenants matters, and (3) HOA and condo boards must create restrictions that are clear and unambiguous. First, there is a distinct difference between rules and regulations that govern … Continue reading →

I am often asked to help homeowners associations and condominiums figure out ways to make ends meet.  For those communities with cash flow problems it can be challenging.  Raising dues is never a popular option, but is often necessary.  The governing documents for most condominiums and homeowners associations allow the board of directors to unilaterally increase dues by some amount—usually between 10% and 15%—without a vote of the membership.  That makes sense because an association should be able to make regular increases to dues to keep up with the costs of the association, both the expected costs and the unforeseen … Continue reading →

Authored by David Wilson & Harmony Taylor We are often asked by board members for HOA and condominium associations to review their community’s documents and “update” them or “make them more modern.”  While there is no one-size fits all solution for any community association, we have noticed that some amendments are a good idea for most communities.  Over the next few articles, David Wilson and Harmony Taylor will be exploring some of the amendments that we frequently recommend to the associations that we represent.  Whether you are a single family, townhome, or condominium community, you may want to think about … Continue reading →

(Blog co-authored by David Wilson & Harmony Taylor. This is a continuation of the earlier blog, “Top Amendments for an HOA or Condo in North Carolina or South Carolina.”) We are often asked by board members for HOA and condominium associations to review their community’s documents and “update” them or “make them more modern.”  While there is no one-size fits all solution for any community association, we have noticed that some amendments are a good idea for most communities.  Over the next few articles, David Wilson and Harmony Taylor will be exploring some of the amendments that we frequently recommend … Continue reading →

(Blog co-authored by David Wilson & Harmony Taylor) We are often asked by board members for HOA and condominium associations to review their community’s documents and “update” them or “make them more modern.”  While there is no one-size fits all solution for any community association, we have noticed that some amendments are a good idea for most communities.  Over the next few articles, David Wilson and Harmony Taylor of Law Firm Carolinas. will be exploring some of the amendments that we frequently recommend to the associations that we represent. Whether you are a single family, townhome or condominium community, you … Continue reading →