What percentage of the board must live on property?

We have 2 out of 5 living elsewhere. In my 23 years living here this has never happened before. I'm not running again because we have a rubber stamp situation with the two and the president who basically sets the agenda to suit his needs. Very frustrating as more and more owners are renting out their property.

Is there a rule that addresses this to protect those of us older owners on fixed incomes?

I believe the problem is that owners no longer know who lives on the property and who rents. It makes it nearly impossible to get a real assessor of candidates. Our management co. hasn't put out that information. I've tried to get a contact sheet. It hasn't been updated since we self managed. The new majority is loathe to put one out.

In CA, the only qualification is to be an owner. I'm sorry to hear that you're in such a predicament, Cristina. What size is your HOA? How many on the Board? Some here may advise you to move, but others of us know that often is not easy or even possible.

Your HOA should have official election rules --the new ones are required in CA since 1/20. But even if your HOA has them --and I suspect they don't, I don't think they will help you. If you're having an election to the board in mid Nov, the PM should have already sent out a request for candidates to apply.

Since you're on the Board, you should know that your management company is required to give you a list of owners and their addresses when you request it in writing. So if your PM won't even do that, I just don't know what your recourse is. In other situations, it's always good to get out there and rally your fellow homeowners to offer up candidates. but it doesn't sound like you're willing & able to do that. It takes a lot of work.

There is no rule, statute or law to protect older owners from uncaring landlords.

Perhaps the best you can do is, as Sheila advises, report violations over and over again until they're cured. Get your neighbors to do the same. Board meetings in CA are supposed to be open to owners. Attend and get neighbors attend too and speak up during open forum.

We are a complex of 34 units with a 5 member board and a property management person at all meetings. So complaining about the PM is tricky since she is always at the meetings.

I am now a former board member. I didn't run again. As of this evening the board is united in backing a person who I actually got to run for the board. How things change. I have personal challenges (husband with Alzheimers) to deal with that made being on the board and speaking up for my concerns a health risk. When there have been discussions of lighting the pool area I made pleas and was told that they would be addressed. Then tonight I was told that was not the case. I feel myself getting tense and frustrated by the broken agreements. Possibly the three out of five who seem to vote in lock step look at me as though I am mistaken. Truly they said on various occasions that we would have more light in some dark areas. Then tonight denied it. It makes me nuts. And I'm now on the outs with them for daring to point out past agreements. It just seems like a high school clique and I'm on the outside.