Residents’ complaints against homeowners associations rise

Friday, Oct. 24, 2003 | 10:57 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Complaints at the state office that oversees homeowners associations are piling up from residents who think they have been abused by the boards.

Ombudsman Eldon Hardy, who is in charge of the Las Vegas office, estimated there will be 1,800 to 2,000 complaints filed this month by unhappy residents of condos or other common-interest communities.

That's an increase from the normal 1,500, Hardy said.

Gov. Kenny Guinn Thursday named four people from Las Vegas and one from Reno to that board: the newly created state Commission for Common Interest Communities.

"The homeowners, community managers and governing boards will now have a place to go to settle disputes, enact or revise provisions governing the conduct and activities of unit-owners' association, and offer guidance where needed," Guinn said.

Those appointed from Las Vegas were Janet Porter, who has served as a member of an executive board; Michael Buckley, an attorney; Shari O'Donnell, community relations director for Signature Homes of Las Vegas to represent a common-interest development company; and Diane Radunz, a certified public accountant

The other member is Karen Brigg of Reno, who serves as the member who is a permit or certificate holder.

Hardy said people believe the commission can come right in and fix their problems immediately, but the commission may not begin hearing its first complaints for another three or four months. The procedure calls for his office to try to mediate any disputes before a case goes before a hearing panel. If there is an appeal, it then reaches the commission.

But he said the presence of the commission may put "fear" into some governing boards so they may not abuse residents.

Right now, Hardy said, his staff is overloaded with the increasing number of complaints. He said it was supposed to get an additional seven employees, but the jobs have not been advertised yet. "It's a little frustrating," he said.

Senate Bill 100 was passed in the last Legislature to create the new commission. It went into effect Oct. 1.

The bill allows the new commission to designate hearing panels to determine violations, impose fines and penalties or take other disciplinary action. An order of the hearing panel may be appealed to the commission.

It was sponsored by Sen. Mike Schneider, D-Las Vegas, who said during debate on the bill that homeowners associations were out of control. He said he had heard complaints ranging from stealing money to kickbacks to harassment of owners of condos.

Schneider could not be reached for comment Thursday.