HOA Elections: Making Your Vote Count in Community Governance

In the United States, over 68 million people reside in about 338,000 managed communities, as highlighted by the Community Associations Institute. Meanwhile, in Canada, around 12.5% of the population lives in a condominium or strata corporation, based on data from Statistics Canada, totaling approximately 1.2 million owner-occupied homes. Collectively, these homeowners invest billions of dollars into maintaining their neighborhoods. Each community is overseen by an elected board of volunteer homeowners chosen through the HOA elections process, who make key decisions impacting all residents.

Participation in HOA board elections is alarmingly low. Why does this matter? The board wields significant influence over your community and daily living conditions. Its decisions can alter property values, impact the neighborhood's reputation, and affect the overall quality of life, thereby influencing the appeal of living in your community.

Getting involved in your community starts with voting for board members. This empowers you to have a say in budget allocations and influence the board's decision-making.

Discover some key areas where boards exert influence, underscoring the importance of your vote.

Selecting the Right Experts

A condominium association or strata operates like a business. The board has the responsibility of managing the budget and making decisions that ensure efficient community operations. This task can be challenging. The board must optimize spending, minimize risks and liabilities, and invest in community upkeep and maintenance. Concurrently, it must uphold residents' desired lifestyle and community dynamics, all while staying financially responsible!

To handle these tasks, boards frequently hire professional property management companies, leveraging their resources and buying power to maximize value. An effective property manager provides advice and expertise to address issues like policy development, compliance enforcement, vendor selection for essential services, and amenity upgrades. The manager also handles daily necessities such as resident communication, landscaping, and maintenance. Your vote for board membership influences the hiring decision of the property management firm.

Safeguarding Your Community

Typically, individuals eager to serve on association or strata boards are dedicated volunteers who invest significant time to enhance and protect their communities. However, exceptions occasionally arise. Issues like power abuse, fraud, and non-compliance with state laws have occurred. These events, when publicized, can tarnish the reputation of association and strata boards broadly.

To prevent such scenarios in your community, get involved! Familiarize yourself with board members, meet the property manager and staff, attend monthly meetings, and voice any concerns. Participate in elections, or consider running for board membership. You can also advocate for enhanced resources for oversight agencies at the state level to prevent board misconduct.

Desirable communities often have boards actively working to boost property values and enrich residents' lifestyles, often with the support of professional property management firms. This success is not coincidental. Strong communities thrive when everyone—including board members, homeowners, and managers—is engaged and committed to collective success.