Non-responsive Management Company

Started by TinaM1 • 6 replies • 1934 views

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TinaM1 (Florida)
Posts: 16

Posted:

We are a 74 unit townhouse community, Atlanta, GA area. Our association is under contract with a management company. Within the last 2 years or so, we have had 2 different managers and our last one quit over a month ago. I only found out our last one quit because I was going through a pest control problem and he emailed my that he had resigned and told me who to contact. Since then I have been trying to find out who the new manager is and when they will be starting. It seems the only person we are to deal with is an "assistant" to the ex-manager and some district manager for the company.

I have emailed them both several times and they will not answer the question about when we will be getting a licensed property manager for this property. I don't even think our community is aware we have no manager currently, because no emails have been sent out or even mailed. I cannot understand why a simple question like this cannot be answered from a resident. We have a totally incompetent board and now this. This company has a bad reputation and yet the board keeps them. Every manager they seem to hire is either very slow to answer resident inquiries, does not respond at all, or gives evasive and unclear answers if they do choose to respond.

The last manager hadn't paid the community water bill for over 90 days and the water was shut off for a whole day. Plus, they let the assoc. hazard insurance policy expire and the coverage lapsed for about 2 months, as an example of the great service we get from them.

Aside from the management company, our board has violated and continues to violate not only our docs, but the GA Condo Act itself. They haven't even posted minutes for meetings since July 2014. I have called every agency I can think of in the state of Georgia to find out who even regulates or handles violations of the Georgia Condominium Act and noone seems to know. Is a private attorney the option here? One person can't be expected to pay for an attorney for violations that effect the whole community. This has been ongoing and I've posted here several times and have gotten some great advice. Because of lack of proper laws or any sort of enforcement, residents seem to be in a catch 22 of either selling their home or paying a lawyer unfortunately. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I have just about given up at this point.

GenoS (Florida)
Posts: 4,276

Posted:

Replace your board. If the management company is worthless then the responsibility for that rests with the board.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

Geno is right, Tina. You need to gather support from other owners and work together to recall your Board.

If elections are soon, you might wait for elections. But you & other owners need unify & act together on this--it's YOUR joint investments. No
Big Brother is going to take care of you. It's all in your hands.

Meantime, you & other owners must write to your Board too, over and over; don't let them off the hook. Get answers. Who, for instance, is collecting your dues and paying the bills?

Also in the meantime, round pup other owners who're willing to serve on the Board and get yourselves back on track. Yes, lotsa work, but you can get it done! (We did!)

On the other hand, if you have deep pockets you alone or with others can consult with an attorney for advice.

Is it a Board of three? Five?

TinaM1 (Florida)
Posts: 16

Posted:

Thanks Geno and Kerry for your responses. I totally agree with you both. The board consists of five people. I served on the original board when it was turned over from the builder. Unfortunately, the current president and treasurer I served with are back on. The treasurer has never left his position, and yet our docs state we do have term limits. So the docs and election rules are ignored now by them and the management company.

Back in December, 2014 we had the annual meeting. There was not a quorum. None of the residents were notified of this. I only found out since my neighbor's wife is on the board. There was never a second election scheduled either, and the same people continued to be on the board, except one person who had resigned and was replaced, again without the community being notified. The board must have "appointed" someone of their choosing, because noone in the community had a shot at the position. The residents weren't even notified as to who is on the board currently.

The latest board member has done personal design work for the current president previously and says she likes to remain on good terms with everyone, even though she wants him off the board. I see it as a conflict of interest. My neighbor's wife is unhappy being on the board, but doesn't resign, and it seems she isn't told very much and has no experience, just like the other lady. So maybe they all just need to be recalled unfortunately.

I guess going door to door with a petition is the only way at this point. Being from Florida I like the way the state is better equipped to handle this sort of thing and advise people instead of always having to get a lawyer. Some sort of oversight is needed when you have residents who are apathetic as they are in this community. Out of 74 units, maybe one homeowner will show up for a meeting.

Florida and California seem to do much better in this area. States shouldn't make laws unless there is someone to enforce them. In Florida I saw a few residents take on a property manager that some senior citizens were terrified of. They did their homework and with the state's help, got the manager's license taken away.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Tina

With 74 owners and very few showing up for meeting begs the question of are you the one with issues? All others seem happy with the way things are going.

Am I missing something?

TinaM1 (Florida)
Posts: 16

Posted:

John - are you kidding me? The residents are not AWARE, since hardly any communication ever goes out from the board or mgmt. company. The property has a history of being mishandled. Do you think residents are happy when the water is shut off for lack of payment? Or is that just my problem. There isn't a need to be insulting. These are real problems, not a figment of my imagination. I only have 2 other neighbors at this point who are aware of things, but not very experienced in how to proceed. Are residents happy to be billed for common area water that shouldn't be billed to them in the first place? Or happy the property doesn't even have a licensed manager presently? They don't know!

PitA
Posts: 311

Posted:

? who cares what the residents think !

? are the OWNERS content ?

since they ALLOW said actions, they evidently ARE

you need to drum up support for YOUR point of view and deal with the issues internally

or

get yourself an attorney and seek legal redress

or

move

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