Friday, April 03, 2009

Live Blogging The Managers' Munch -- Rentals

I'm attending the Utah Chapter of the Community Association Institute's monthly Manager's Munch today; the subject is Rentals in Community Associations. The first speaker, Paul Smith of the Utah Apartment Association is advocating the regulation, but not the prohibition of, rentals in associations.

Paul recommends using a local, attorney-reviewed lease contract; he also recommends that the board suggest the screening, by owners, of the potential tenants. If you do that, he says, make certain that the information regarding tenants is kept confidential. Next, require owners to identify their tenants.

Paul suggests that tenants should also be kept abreast of the owners' deficiencies; he suggests that associations advise tenants of pending amenity disruptions. Leases should inform unit owners of the association's governing documents.

According to Paul, cities are actively encouraging participation in the Good Landlord programs, in which municipalities provide disproportionate fees for non-participating landlords, in order to encourage training and education.

Paul contends that most cities won't touch a definition of a family; that's the first matter upon which he and I differ significantly. I suggest that my associations look to and incorporate those definitions into their restrictions; Paul's co-presenter, Kirk Cullimore more or less retracted that assertion.

Now Kirk Cullimore is up, taking on the difficult task of attempting to explain conflicts and overlaps between municipality, state and federal laws. His advice, with which I agree, is that you find the most restrictive requirement, and comply with it.

Kirk recommends that associations should inspect units more than they traditionally have. He suggests that utility companies may be willing to provide information as to the recipients of bills. Kirk also suggests using the state DMV database; I'd recommend extreme caution in that area, because the subscription agreement on that information contains significant limitations on its proper and improper use.

Kirk is now talking of nuisance evictions; he contends (and I agree) that they are difficult in Utah. A "three day comply and vacate" notice is often ineffective by itself; even if it's not, they make a good trail, and can lead to the service of what Kirk calls a "Three Day Get the Hell Out" notice. (I like that term, but probably wouldn't put it on a pleading...)

Kirk suggests a required lease addendum for the community; I agree that this approach is superior to the imposition of a form lease.

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