JanetB9
Posts: 68
Posts: 68
Posted:
Is it ok for a Board member to fix things in the HOA common areas, for example repair a broken window, change a gate door, install a new lock on a door, change light bulbs throughout the community?
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Board member repairing things
Started by JanetB9 • 13 replies • 320 views
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TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,061
Posts: 21,061
Posted:
Expecting that the board is comfortable with the individuals ability, I don't see an issue.
It's done at churches, in your own home, etc.
I did a lot of it in my Association.
Mind you, we were an HOA not a COA.
Now, if there could be liability that the board isn't comfortable with, or if the issue is structural, then a licensed contractor would be best.
It's done at churches, in your own home, etc.
I did a lot of it in my Association.
Mind you, we were an HOA not a COA.
Now, if there could be liability that the board isn't comfortable with, or if the issue is structural, then a licensed contractor would be best.
MichaelT21 (Arkansas)
Posts: 462
Posts: 462
Posted:
I do a lot of little stuff, because we aren't a condo and don't have enough work to hire a maintenance crew but no handymen type services will work for our HOA. Thus, if something bad happens, I end up fixing it. I only do simple things that I can repair without much time or effort.
Of course, I get blasted for it because some homeowners think that only licensed & bonded professionals should do stuff for our HOA. These are the same homeowners that complain dues are too high.
Of course, I get blasted for it because some homeowners think that only licensed & bonded professionals should do stuff for our HOA. These are the same homeowners that complain dues are too high.
KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550
Posts: 14,550
Posted:
Best to check with your HOA's insurance agent. Climbing on ladders and messing with electricity may be an issue.
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,061
Posts: 21,061
Posted:
I think that any insurance agent or any attorney will advise to have a licensed, insured contractor do everything.
They are concerned about liability if someone is injured, property is damaged, etc.
That said, I doubt you call an electrician to change your light bulbs or replace batteries in smoke detectors.
Many won't call a contractor to replace a window or lock that they can easily do themselves with a little research.
Unless your in NJ, we all likely pump our own gas.
Everything has a risk and liability associated to it.
Climb that ladder and replace a light bulb and get injured, the Association could be held partially responsible. Don't replace that light bulb in a timely manner and someone is attacked, the Association could be held partially responsible
One needs to do a risk assessment and make their own decisions.
An association can hire out for everything (and some do). However, it will likely lead to higher assessments and delays.
They are concerned about liability if someone is injured, property is damaged, etc.
That said, I doubt you call an electrician to change your light bulbs or replace batteries in smoke detectors.
Many won't call a contractor to replace a window or lock that they can easily do themselves with a little research.
Unless your in NJ, we all likely pump our own gas.
Everything has a risk and liability associated to it.
Climb that ladder and replace a light bulb and get injured, the Association could be held partially responsible. Don't replace that light bulb in a timely manner and someone is attacked, the Association could be held partially responsible
One needs to do a risk assessment and make their own decisions.
An association can hire out for everything (and some do). However, it will likely lead to higher assessments and delays.
WendyM5 (North Carolina)
Posts: 1,522
Posts: 1,522
Posted:
sure, and you are lucky to have a board member do those things for FREE! If you had a contractor and do that simple stuff you'd wind up paying through the nose. Most contractors wont' even show up for less than $250. Do you really want to be paying someone to change light bulbs.
Only issue is if the work requires a licensed contractor. So digging a trench for drainage would be fine, but digging a trench to install an electrical wire for a security light would require an electrician. Probabaly not the best example, but I think you get my points.
Only issue is if the work requires a licensed contractor. So digging a trench for drainage would be fine, but digging a trench to install an electrical wire for a security light would require an electrician. Probabaly not the best example, but I think you get my points.
vis ta vie
SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964
Posts: 6,964
Posted:
Because of the liability issue, you might want to consider getting a handyman service to do some or perhaps all of this stuff. Our community had one and the president would call with a list of things to do and he'd come out and do them. It wasn't every week, he carried his own insurance and if he had to buy supplies, he'd bring the receipts to the property manager, who was authorized to pay reimbursement up to a certain amount (higher items had to be preapproved by the board).
If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius
WendyM5 (North Carolina)
Posts: 1,522
Posts: 1,522
Posted:
Our HOA insurance covers board members doing this kind of stuff. So check your HOA insurance. I'm guessing most will cover it. On the other hand the insurance does not cover volunteers unless they are members of a committee. So have any volunteers sign up as a committee member before doing work.
vis ta vie
SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964
Posts: 6,964
Posted:
And if the work involves climbing up and down ladders, you might be able to get them to sign some sort of waiver releasing the association and board from liability. Talk to your association attorney and insurance company to see what your options are.
If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius
CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299
Posts: 6,299
Posted:
Yes to checking that you're properly insured and to getting a signed waiver of liability. The waiver may not fully protect you if Mr. Board Member gets hurt and wants the association to pay his medical bills. And volunteers should not do work that normally requires special training or licensing unless they actually have such licensing; eg. electrical or plumbing repairs.
Should I trot out my usual set piece about using volunteers in HOAs? Yes. Yes I should.
Many HOAs/COAs try to save money by using volunteers in place of paid professionals to do maintenance work. They may be fooling themselves.
* Volunteers are not free labor. They need to be covered by workers comp or similar insurance. They also need hands-on supervision by the board, unlike professional work crews. This is additional work for people who often already have too much to do.
* You won't get professional quality work, and you won't get warranties or guarantees. In fact, the volunteers' work may void existing warranties. Volunteers can also walk off the job with no notice and leave the board scrambling.
* Use of volunteers is not sustainable. People don't move into HOAs, and especially COAs, in order to have unpaid side hustles. Just because you have a few folks who are looking for things to keep them busy doesn't mean you'll have them in the future.
* Using volunteers misleads homeowners about the true cost of ownership since you're hiding normal, legitimate expenses. This also sets up future boards for problems when they have to raise assessments to their proper levels. This last bit is especially problematic if you live in a state and/or community where homeowners have the ability to vote down budgets or assessment increases.
In addition to these issues, if your volunteers are also board members, you're compounding the problem of burnout. The best, most energetic board members do tend to burn out after several years just through the normal stresses involved. Throwing additional tasks on top of the regular workload means you'll probably lose them sooner. This is counterproductive.
Should I trot out my usual set piece about using volunteers in HOAs? Yes. Yes I should.
Many HOAs/COAs try to save money by using volunteers in place of paid professionals to do maintenance work. They may be fooling themselves.
* Volunteers are not free labor. They need to be covered by workers comp or similar insurance. They also need hands-on supervision by the board, unlike professional work crews. This is additional work for people who often already have too much to do.
* You won't get professional quality work, and you won't get warranties or guarantees. In fact, the volunteers' work may void existing warranties. Volunteers can also walk off the job with no notice and leave the board scrambling.
* Use of volunteers is not sustainable. People don't move into HOAs, and especially COAs, in order to have unpaid side hustles. Just because you have a few folks who are looking for things to keep them busy doesn't mean you'll have them in the future.
* Using volunteers misleads homeowners about the true cost of ownership since you're hiding normal, legitimate expenses. This also sets up future boards for problems when they have to raise assessments to their proper levels. This last bit is especially problematic if you live in a state and/or community where homeowners have the ability to vote down budgets or assessment increases.
In addition to these issues, if your volunteers are also board members, you're compounding the problem of burnout. The best, most energetic board members do tend to burn out after several years just through the normal stresses involved. Throwing additional tasks on top of the regular workload means you'll probably lose them sooner. This is counterproductive.
JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265
Posts: 14,265
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By CathyA3 on 09/08/2022 11:32 AM
Yes to checking that you're properly insured and to getting a signed waiver of liability. The waiver may not fully protect you if Mr. Board Member gets hurt and wants the association to pay his medical bills. And volunteers should not do work that normally requires special training or licensing unless they actually have such licensing; eg. electrical or plumbing repairs.
Should I trot out my usual set piece about using volunteers in HOAs? Yes. Yes I should.
Many HOAs/COAs try to save money by using volunteers in place of paid professionals to do maintenance work. They may be fooling themselves.
* Volunteers are not free labor. They need to be covered by workers comp or similar insurance. They also need hands-on supervision by the board, unlike professional work crews. This is additional work for people who often already have too much to do.
* You won't get professional quality work, and you won't get warranties or guarantees. In fact, the volunteers' work may void existing warranties. Volunteers can also walk off the job with no notice and leave the board scrambling.
* Use of volunteers is not sustainable. People don't move into HOAs, and especially COAs, in order to have unpaid side hustles. Just because you have a few folks who are looking for things to keep them busy doesn't mean you'll have them in the future.
* Using volunteers misleads homeowners about the true cost of ownership since you're hiding normal, legitimate expenses. This also sets up future boards for problems when they have to raise assessments to their proper levels. This last bit is especially problematic if you live in a state and/or community where homeowners have the ability to vote down budgets or assessment increases.
In addition to these issues, if your volunteers are also board members, you're compounding the problem of burnout. The best, most energetic board members do tend to burn out after several years just through the normal stresses involved. Throwing additional tasks on top of the regular workload means you'll probably lose them sooner. This is counterproductive.
Yes to checking that you're properly insured and to getting a signed waiver of liability. The waiver may not fully protect you if Mr. Board Member gets hurt and wants the association to pay his medical bills. And volunteers should not do work that normally requires special training or licensing unless they actually have such licensing; eg. electrical or plumbing repairs.
Should I trot out my usual set piece about using volunteers in HOAs? Yes. Yes I should.
Many HOAs/COAs try to save money by using volunteers in place of paid professionals to do maintenance work. They may be fooling themselves.
* Volunteers are not free labor. They need to be covered by workers comp or similar insurance. They also need hands-on supervision by the board, unlike professional work crews. This is additional work for people who often already have too much to do.
* You won't get professional quality work, and you won't get warranties or guarantees. In fact, the volunteers' work may void existing warranties. Volunteers can also walk off the job with no notice and leave the board scrambling.
* Use of volunteers is not sustainable. People don't move into HOAs, and especially COAs, in order to have unpaid side hustles. Just because you have a few folks who are looking for things to keep them busy doesn't mean you'll have them in the future.
* Using volunteers misleads homeowners about the true cost of ownership since you're hiding normal, legitimate expenses. This also sets up future boards for problems when they have to raise assessments to their proper levels. This last bit is especially problematic if you live in a state and/or community where homeowners have the ability to vote down budgets or assessment increases.
In addition to these issues, if your volunteers are also board members, you're compounding the problem of burnout. The best, most energetic board members do tend to burn out after several years just through the normal stresses involved. Throwing additional tasks on top of the regular workload means you'll probably lose them sooner. This is counterproductive.
Sound advice.
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