Las Vegas Homeowners’ Association Issues

There are a number of issues in which a  Las Vegas Property Manager becomes involved when working with a Homeowners Association, issues that involve tact, people skills, communication and thorough knowledge of – in the State of Nevada – NRS 116 – Common Interest Ownership (Uniform Act).  The manager is often called upon to interpret different aspects of NRS 116 to guide the HOA Board of Directors in decision making or to suggest a consultation with the HOA attorney, if necessary.

One situation which frequently causes emotional reactions by homeowners in Las Vegas relates to xeriscaping of grass areas in front of condominium units.  While these areas are actually not owned by each individual homeowner and are considered common elements, those homeowners who prefer retaining the grass feel that a vote should be taken and no changes made without majority decision.

However, Homeowners’ Association Boards believe that planting drought tolerant landscaping saves money and that xeriscaping is strictly a Board decision.

In this matter, the property manager has to put aside his or her own personal preferences and either guide the Board to the appropriate section of NRS 116 or refer them to their attorney for a legal opinion.

The decision almost always causes one faction of the community to be resentful and the manager must help the Board to present the ruling to the homeowners in a tactful manner to avoid creating long lasting hostile feelings among dissenters.

Another often emotional issue relates to removal of one or more of the members of the Board of Directors.  This occurs when either an unpopular decision is made by the board in its entirety or if the actions of one or more officers are found to be offensive by a number of the homeowners in the community.

This is not an action to be taken lightly and requires a good deal of planning by the aggrieved homeowners who must obtain a specified number of signatures on a petition calling for a special meeting for a removal election.  Experts in Las Vegas Residential Property Management have stated that  recall of a board member is usually difficult.

The property manager is responsible for guiding the homeowners through the intricacies of a removal election.  In the latest 2009 update to NRS 116 Community Association information, it has now become easier to remove members of the executive board.

In order to remove a board member, if at least 35% of the voting members (homeowners) vote in favor of recall, then the board member or members are removed.  To be specific, if there are 100 voting members in a community and 35 of these individuals vote – with only 18 homeowners voting in favor of removal, then the recall process is successful.