CCS Property Management Practices 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A condominium manager discovers that a unit owner has installed an unauthorized satellite dish on the exterior wall. What is the most appropriate first step?
- Remove the dish immediately without notice
- Issue a written violation notice citing the governing documents (Correct answer)
- Call local authorities to report the violation
- Ignore it unless other owners complain
Correct answer: Issue a written violation notice citing the governing documents
Proper enforcement begins with a written violation notice referencing the specific governing document provision that was violated.
Question 2: Which document typically grants the board of directors the authority to adopt rules and regulations for a condominium?
- The deed to each individual unit
- The declaration of condominium (Correct answer)
- The local zoning ordinance
- The property tax assessment
Correct answer: The declaration of condominium
The declaration of condominium (also called the master deed) is the foundational document that grants the board authority to govern the association.
Question 3: A property manager wants to implement a new pet policy restricting dog breeds. Which process must be followed?
- Post a sign in the lobby announcing the new rule
- Amend the declaration with owner vote if required, or adopt via board resolution per bylaws authority (Correct answer)
- Send an email to all owners with 24 hours' notice
- Contact each owner individually by phone
Correct answer: Amend the declaration with owner vote if required, or adopt via board resolution per bylaws authority
Rule changes must follow the amendment process specified in the governing documents, which may require owner vote for declaration changes or board resolution for rules.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of conducting a reserve study for a condominium association?
- To determine monthly maintenance fees for individual owners
- To plan for future repair and replacement of major common elements (Correct answer)
- To assess the market value of individual units
- To calculate property tax assessments
Correct answer: To plan for future repair and replacement of major common elements
A reserve study forecasts the lifespan and replacement cost of major common elements so the association can fund future repairs without special assessments.
Question 5: Under the Fair Housing Act, a condominium association MUST allow which of the following even if it conflicts with a no-pet policy?
- Any pet requested by an owner
- Emotional support animals for residents with qualifying disabilities (Correct answer)
- Guard dogs for security purposes
- Pets owned before the policy was adopted
Correct answer: Emotional support animals for residents with qualifying disabilities
The Fair Housing Act requires reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, including allowing emotional support animals regardless of pet restrictions.
Question 6: A condominium manager receives a request from a unit owner to inspect the association's financial records. What is the standard obligation?
- Deny the request to protect financial privacy
- Provide access to records as required by state law and governing documents (Correct answer)
- Charge a significant fee before allowing any inspection
- Only allow the board president to review financial records
Correct answer: Provide access to records as required by state law and governing documents
State condominium statutes and governing documents generally require associations to make financial records available to unit owners upon reasonable request.
Question 7: When a condominium unit is sold, who is responsible for unpaid assessments owed by the previous owner under most state statutes?
- The association absorbs all unpaid amounts
- The new owner may be liable for a limited amount of unpaid assessments per state law (Correct answer)
- Only the previous owner remains liable indefinitely
- The real estate agent who facilitated the sale
Correct answer: The new owner may be liable for a limited amount of unpaid assessments per state law
Many states impose successor liability on new owners for a limited period or dollar amount of unpaid assessments, which is typically disclosed at closing.
CCS Property Management Practices 2
A condominium manager discovers that a unit owner has installed an unauthorized satellite dish on the exterior wall.
What is the most appropriate first step?