It is essential to have a knowledgeable attorney on your team when running an efficient condominium and homeowners association (HOA) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Legal matters that necessitate the help of an attorney are commonplace for condo associations and HOAs, with various challenges occurring every day, from contractual disputes to Fair Housing Act compliance, HOA covenants, and more.
Rather than searching online to find the answers to your complicated legal matters, turn to the experienced Ann Arbor condominium and HOA lawyer from Hirzel Law, PLC. Our talented team of Ann Arbor condo and HOA attorneys is well-versed in all aspects of Michigan’s condominium and HOA laws and is prepared to help you no matter your legal situation.
Why Hire an Ann Arbor Condo & HOA Lawyer?
Running a condominium or HOA in Ann Arbor routinely requires contracting with homeowners, renters, vendors, and other third parties where legal issues abound. When you have a skilled condo and HOA lawyer in your corner, like those from Hirzel Law, you can rest easy knowing your best interests are protected and looked after.
Hirzel Law’s award-winning attorneys have advised hundreds of condo associations and HOAs throughout Michigan. We stay informed of any changes in Michigan’s condominium and HOA laws and educate our clients with the knowledge they need to run their community associations appropriately. Get ahead of legal troubles before they occur and enjoy peace of mind by partnering with experienced Ann Arbor condominium and HOA lawyers from Hirzel Law.
Exceptional Legal Counsel for Ann Arbor Condominium & HOA Legal Issues
Condo and HOA associations frequently experience legal difficulties that require the professional understanding of a seasoned team of attorneys. At Hirzel Law, our Ann Arbor condominium attorneys concentrate specifically on supporting condo associations and HOAs in managing legal matters, as well as keeping compliant with the Michigan Condominium Act. Read ahead to learn the legal areas we can help you with in running your Ann Arbor condominium or homeowners associations.
HOA Collections
Ann Arbor HOAs count on property owners paying their assessments to keep essential services fully operational. Whenever property owners fail to pay their dues, other property owners are forced to pay extra to cover the HOA’s operating expenses. Hirzel Law’s Ann Arbor condominium and HOA lawyers can assist your condo association or HOA in collecting delinquent dues effectively and in a straightforward manner.
When your Ann Arbor homeowners associations need experienced legal advice on collection matters, our lawyers at Hirzel Law provide vital support by:
- Writing demand letters
- Recording HOA liens for unpaid HOA assessments
- Analyzing HOA Lien priority issues
- Foreclosing HOA Liens
- Filing lawsuits to obtain money judgments
- Collecting judgments
- Representing HOAs in bankruptcy or probate proceedings
Recovering HOA Attorney Fees and Costs
In most instances, Michigan HOAs can recover the cost and fees of hiring an HOA lawyer to assist in the collection process. Keeping in mind that reasonable attorney fees are added onto the outstanding dues that are to be repaid by the delinquent owner, Ann Arbor homeowners associations do not have a justification for failing to engage in legal proceedings to collect unpaid HOA dues.
HOA Contracts
Ann Arbor condo associations and HOAs frequently enter into contractual agreements for services essential to running the community association. These contracts frequently include topics relating to:
- Insurance
- Repairs
- Construction
- Landscaping
- Maintenance
- Snowplowing
- Modification agreement
- Cable and internet service
- Professional property management
Note that an experienced HOA lawyer should prepare most HOA contracts and evaluate major contracts to safeguard the condo association’s interests. When you partner with Hirzel Law, our attorneys work to resolve any concerns when a vendor breaches their contractual agreement with your condominium or HOA.
Developer Liability
Hirzel Law’s Ann Arbor condo and HOA lawyers advocate for condominium associations when the developer transfers the condo association’s power to the co-owners. Hirzel Law also represents condo associations regarding issues of the successor developers when taking over for the original developer or attempting to re-develop an incomplete condominium plan.
Our Ann Arbor condominium attorneys offer support for condo associations with various topics, including developers and successor developers, such as:
- Contract review
- Financial audits and reviews
- Reserve funding
- Recreational facilities
- Warranty claims
- Fraud and misrepresentation claims
- Construction defect litigation
- Unlawful contraction of a condominium
- Illegal expansion of a condominium
- Calling the first annual meeting to elect co-owner directors
- Failing to pay assessments and proportionate share of expenses
- Elimination of “need not be built” units under MCL 559.167
Ann Arbor Condo Association Elections & Meetings
Elections and meetings are a vital component of any well-managed condominium association. Hirzel Law’s condo and HOA attorneys understand the appropriate procedures for managing board meetings, annual meetings, and special meetings. Our lawyers frequently attend condo association meetings throughout Michigan, and our proficiency extends from subject-specific sessions to managing the entirety of the meeting.
We support our condominium association clients and oversee the following matters relating to meetings:
- Agendas
- Obtaining Co-Owner Consent to receive electronic notice
- Counting ballots
- Officer qualifications
- Drafting meeting notices
- Drafting proxies
- Director qualifications
- Electing directors
- Establishing quorum
- Meeting minutes
- Mortgagee voting
- Designation of voting representatives
- Remote participation
- Robert’s Rules of Order
- Voter eligibility
- Voting outside of a meeting
HOA Insurance Coverage
Ann Arbor condominium and homeowners associations involve a myriad of insurance policies that generally cover:
- Fires
- Vandalism
- General liability
- Workers’ compensation
- Crime or Fidelity bond coverage
- Directors’ and officers’ insurance
Insurers are quick to deny or dispute claims depending on whether they are protected under an HOA insurance policy. Similarly, if the condominium bylaws are vague, there can be conflicts between the HOA’s insurance company and the insurance company for a co-owner that provides an HO-6 policy.
The Ann Arbor condo attorneys at Hirzel Law have helped numerous condominium associations navigate the insurance claims procedure. From filing actions for breach of contract when insurance claims have been unfairly denied to declaratory relief, our HOA clients can rely on us to champion their best interests regardless of what challenges insurance companies pose.
HOA Opinion Letters
Condominium associations and HOAs regularly involve legal counsel to clarify the Michigan state laws, federal laws, master deed, and condo bylaws. Hirzel Law’s Ann Arbor condominium and HOA attorneys are highly skilled in writing opinion letters to condo associations regarding the following issues:
- Amending condo documents
- Board authority
- Bylaw enforcement
- Co-owner liability
- Developer liability
- Fair Housing Act compliance
- Insurance claims
- Maintenance responsibilities
- Michigan Condominium Act compliance
- Nonprofit Corporation Act compliance
- OTARD/FCC antenna rules
- Voting requirements
Condominium Association Rules & Regulations
In Ann Arbor, condominium associations have the authority to impose reasonable HOA regulations to implement the condo bylaws. Typically, the board of directors can apply these rules without the co-owner’s vote. At Hirzel Law, our lawyers are seasoned in writing standard HOA rules and regulations for condo associations in Ann Arbor, including:
- Architectural control procedures
- Bylaw enforcement policies
- Board of directors codes of conduct
- Clubhouse rules
- Collection policies
- Fair Housing Act accommodation policies
- Fine procedures
- Maintenance matrixes
- Modification request procedures
- Parking rules
- Pet policies
- Pool rules
- Recreational facilities usage policies
- Satellite dish/antenna rules
Obtain Reliable Legal Support Year-Round with a Premium Service Plan for Ann Arbor Condominium & HOAs
Our legal services are often needed for many of our condo and HOA clients in Ann Arbor throughout the year. To meet this need, Hirzel Law offers a Premium Service Plan with extra resources and legal support for Ann Arbor condominium associations and homeowners associations to operate their community associations efficiently all year long. For an annual fee, our Premium Service Plan offers a range of benefits, such as:
- Preparation of a Condominium or HOA Report Card to evaluate your governing documents
- Attendance at one board meeting a year, upon request of the board
- Review of any HOA Board Meeting minutes
- Access to our Online library of standardized condo and HOA forms
- Access to our Online collection portal to view the current status of your HOA collections
- Attendance for all board members to ask general questions on our monthly Hirzel Hotline calls
- Attendance for all board members at Hirzel Law webinars that are presented during the year
- Hirzel Law will serve as the Resident Agent for the condo or HOA upon request of the board
- A copy of Hirzel’s Handbook to help your condominium or homeowners association successfully operate
Retain an Experienced Ann Arbor Condominium and HOA Lawyer Today
When it comes to resolving challenges and disputes that condominium associations and HOAs frequently encounter, Hirzel Law, PLC’s legal services are unparalleled. We strongly encourage your Ann Arbor condominium or homeowners association to partner with a skilled HOA attorney to advise and help you understand Michigan’s rules and regulations so your community association can successfully resolve conflicts as they arise.
Our lawyers are legal influencers, participating in drafting legislation that affects community associations on a state and federal level. We stay abreast of the trends and changes in federal and Michigan’s community association law to educate our clients and ensure they keep compliance. Our firm’s steadfast dedication to serving community associations throughout Michigan has earned multiple peer recognition awards from Best Lawyers, Michigan Top Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and the Community Association Institute’s College of Community Association Lawyers.
The award-winning condo and HOA lawyers at Hirzel Law are ready to provide the legal support you need for all your legal concerns. Speak to an experienced Ann Arbor condominium and HOA attorney today by completing a contact form or calling 248-986-2290.