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Don’t Get Stuck with the Bill: Protect Your Association from Mechanics Liens

Jacquelyn E. Quinn, Esq.

Senior Attorney

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Practices: Community Association Counsel | Commercial CID

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A mechanics lien is a legal claim that contractors, subcontractors, laborers, or material suppliers can file against a property when they are not paid for work or materials provided. Typically, any person who works on the property under a contract—whether directly with the association or through a general contractor (i.e., material supplier)—may have lien rights. In California, this right is protected by statute to ensure that those who contribute to property improvements are compensated.

For community associations, mechanics liens can pose serious risks, especially when work is performed on common areas. A lien on the common area can impact and even prevent owners from selling or refinancing their properties. Even if the association itself has paid its direct contractor, a material supplier who is unpaid may still assert a lien against the common area property or, in some cases, against the individual owner’s separate property. Because of this, an association must take proactive measures to prevent liens from arising and to minimize exposure if one is filed.

Steps an Association Can Take to Protect Itself from Mechanics Liens

      1. Use Written Contracts with Clear Payment Terms:
        Every project, no matter how small, should be governed by a written contract. The written contract should include provisions that specify payment schedules, require lien releases before payments are issued, and require the contractor to indemnify the association and its members against liens that may be filed. The contract should also require the contractor to comply with all lien laws and to ensure that all subcontractors and suppliers are timely paid.
      2. Obtain and Verify Preliminary Notices:
        Any party supplying labor or materials for a project that is not in direct contract with the association must first serve a preliminary notice (often within 20 days of starting work), which informs the property owner that the subcontractor or supplier has provided, or will provide, goods and services to the property and could file a lien claim if they are not paid. If subcontractors and suppliers don’t provide the association with the notice, they lose the right to file a lien.

        An association should carefully keep track of all preliminary notices received. Oftentimes, however, preliminary notices are sent to the address on file for the association with the Secretary of State, which may be management’s primary office, not on site at the association. Therefore, the association may also wish to request a list of all parties supplying labor or materials to the project from the contractor. This allows the association to verify that each listed entity receives payment or provides a lien release before issuing progress or final payment to the contractor.

      3. Require Conditional and Unconditional Lien Releases Before Making Any Payment:
        Never make a progress or final payment without first obtaining the appropriate lien release(s) from the contractor and all known subcontractors and suppliers.
      4. Use Joint Checks When Appropriate:
        Issuing joint checks that are made payable to both the general contractor and subcontractor or supplier when a contractor has not submitted an unconditional lien release can help ensure that funds reach all parties with lien rights and reduce the risk of unpaid claims that can result in liens being filed against association property.
      5. Monitor Contractor Bonding and Insurance:
        When hiring for large projects, associations might consider requiring contractors provide a payment bond. A payment bond ensures that subcontractors and suppliers are paid, even if the general contractor fails to do so.
      6. Act Promptly if a Lien is Recorded:
        If a lien is filed, an association should consult with its legal counsel immediately. In many cases, the lien can be released by recording a release bond or by demonstrating that proper payments and releases were made. Quick action can prevent escalation and protect the association and its members’ interests. Please also note that Civil Code Section 4620, requires an association to provide individual notice to its members within 60 days of being served with a claim of lien for work performed on the common area.

Mechanics liens can create significant financial and administrative burdens for associations, even when the association has acted in good faith. By maintaining strong contractual safeguards, tracking preliminary notices, and always obtaining applicable lien releases before issuing a payment, an association can greatly reduce the likelihood of a lien being filed against its property.

Codes of Conduct for Association Volunteers

Emily A. Long, Esq.

Coachella Valley Office Managing Shareholder

858.527.0111
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Practices: Community Association Counsel | Civil Litigation

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Generally, board members of common interest developments are volunteers dedicating their time, skills and energy to serve the communities within which they live. Indeed, without these director volunteers, community associations would be unable to properly function. Similarly, committee members are volunteers who work on specific projects within a community. Often, committee work is a valuable first experience which can entice a member to become more involved and to eventually run for the board. However, there is a steep learning curve upon entering the world of association governance.

In order to help board and committee members understand the association’s expectations for service, codes of conduct can be particularly helpful.  Not only do codes of conduct codify association expectations, they can also serve to educate board and committee members and help minimize association liability.  Boards might therefore consider adopting codes of conduct that cover the following topics, among others:

        • Prohibiting the acceptance of any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan, or any other item of monetary value by a board or committee member from a person who is seeking to obtain a contractual or other business or financial relationship with the association.
        • Clarifying that board and committee members may not engage in any writing, publishing, or speech that defames any other member of the board, committee, employee, or resident of the community.
        • Establishing that board and committee members may not knowingly misrepresent facts to the residents for the sole purpose of advancing a personal cause or influencing the residents.
        • Prohibiting board members from discussing sensitive and confidential matters discussed in executive session, outside of executive session, or with anyone who is not on the board (with the exception of management and association counsel).
        • Prohibiting board or committee members from seeking to have a contract implemented that has not been duly approved by the board.
        • Prohibiting board or committee member interference with an association contractor performing work.
        • Clarifying that board and committee members may not harass, threaten, or attempt through any means to control, instill fear or discriminate against any member of the Association, management company, service provider, or community resident.
        • Preventing interference by board and committee members with the system of management established by the board as a whole and the management company.
        • Reminding board members that they must operate as a board and do not have any individual authority unless it is specifically granted to them in writing by the board or the Association’s governing documents.

Often, codes of conduct may be adopted as rules of procedure by way of approval by the board at an open session meeting, rather than by following the rulemaking procedures spelled out in Civil Code section 4360. However, we encourage you to first speak with your association’s legal counsel to review your association’s governing documents and discuss your community’s particular needs prior to adopting such rules.

Enforceability of these codes of conduct is another important issue to consider when preparing draft rules. It is recommended that any code of conduct specifically list the consequences for a violation of the code of conduct.  Reasonable penalties for violation might include: public or private censure by the board, removal of an officer title, and/or removal from committee service by the board.  It is unlikely that violation of a code of conduct may result in unilateral removal of a board member by the board, but speak with your association counsel on this issue.

Mastering the Architectural Review Process

By Rhonda R. Goldblatt, Esq.

Reviewing architectural applications is typically part of a community association manager’s bread and butter. However, the architectural review process can be fraught with stumbling blocks, and architectural disputes with homeowners can be drawn-out, expensive affairs. A few practice tips for processing architectural applications are listed below to help master the architectural review process:

1. The clock is ticking. An association’s declaration typically includes a deadline to respond to architectural applications, and may even provide that failing to respond by the deadline deems an application approved. Associations can consider calendaring response deadlines to ensure an application is timely processed.

Note that if an association’s declaration does not include a response deadline, that does not mean the association has unlimited time to respond. Civil Code section 4765 states an association’s architectural approval procedure “shall provide for prompt deadlines. The procedure shall state the maximum time for response to an application or a request for reconsideration by the board.” If an association’s declaration is silent on deadlines, boards can consider adopting architectural rules with that information.

2. Get familiar with Civil Code section 4765. Section 4765 includes other important standards, including the requirement to respond to an application in writing, and providing a written explanation as to why an application was disapproved, along with a description of the appeal process. The law also requires associations to make decisions on an application in good faith, and prohibits making unreasonable, arbitrary or capricious decisions. Further, associations must provide the membership with annual notice of the architectural review process.

3. Pay attention to the special cases. The Civil Code includes special standards for certain proposed improvements, including solar energy systems, electric vehicle (“EV”) charging stations, EV-dedicated TOU meters, accessory dwelling units (“ADUs”), and junior ADUs. Remember that the law prevails over an association’s governing documents in the event of conflict. Boards may want to consider adopting separate policies for processing these types of special applications to ensure compliance with the law.

4. Know thy governing documents. Associations must follow their own procedures, and may face liability for failing to do so. Adopting clear, concise procedures in the first place can help associations stay on the right side of the law. Boards can also consider asking their community association counsel for help drafting those procedures, and/or reviewing the procedures on a regular basis to ensure consistency with the law.

5. Keep a written record. Maintaining well-organized records of architectural decisions can help protect an association from liability in the event of a homeowner challenge. Relying on memory alone can lead to trouble. The members of a board or architectural committee can change, key witnesses can move away, memories fade, and managers can switch accounts.

When in doubt as to how to process an architectural application, remember that you can always consult your friendly community association counsel for assistance.

** This article was published on San Diego Community Insider Magazine – Spring 2024 Edition.

Codes of Conduct for Association Volunteers

Emily A. Long, Esq.

Senior Attorney

858.527.0111
Email
Practices: Community Association Counsel | Civil Litigation

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Generally, board members of common interest developments are volunteers dedicating their time, skills and energy to serve the communities within which they live. Indeed, without these director volunteers, community associations would be unable to properly function. Similarly, committee members are volunteers who work on specific projects within a community. Often, committee work is a valuable first experience which can entice a member to become more involved and to eventually run for the board. However, there is a steep learning curve upon entering the world of association governance.

In order to help board and committee members understand the association’s expectations for service, codes of conduct can be particularly helpful.  Not only do codes of conduct codify association expectations, they can also serve to educate board and committee members and help minimize association liability.  Boards might therefore consider adopting codes of conduct that cover the following topics, among others:

        • Prohibiting the acceptance of any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan, or any other item of monetary value by a board or committee member from a person who is seeking to obtain a contractual or other business or financial relationship with the association.
        • Clarifying that board and committee members may not engage in any writing, publishing, or speech that defames any other member of the board, committee, employee, or resident of the community.
        • Establishing that board and committee members may not knowingly misrepresent facts to the residents for the sole purpose of advancing a personal cause or influencing the residents.
        • Prohibiting board members from discussing sensitive and confidential matters discussed in executive session, outside of executive session, or with anyone who is not on the board (with the exception of management and association counsel).
        • Prohibiting board or committee members from seeking to have a contract implemented that has not been duly approved by the board.
        • Prohibiting board or committee member interference with an association contractor performing work.
        • Clarifying that board and committee members may not harass, threaten, or attempt through any means to control, instill fear or discriminate against any member of the Association, management company, service provider, or community resident.
        • Preventing interference by board and committee members with the system of management established by the board as a whole and the management company.
        • Reminding board members that they must operate as a board and do not have any individual authority unless it is specifically granted to them in writing by the board or the Association’s governing documents.

Often, codes of conduct may be adopted as rules of procedure by way of approval by the board at an open session meeting, rather than by following the rulemaking procedures spelled out in Civil Code section 4360. However, we encourage you to first speak with your association’s legal counsel to review your association’s governing documents and discuss your community’s particular needs prior to adopting such rules.

Enforceability of these codes of conduct is another important issue to consider when preparing draft rules. It is recommended that any code of conduct specifically list the consequences for a violation of the code of conduct.  Reasonable penalties for violation might include: public or private censure by the board, removal of an officer title, and/or removal from committee service by the board.  It is unlikely that violation of a code of conduct may result in unilateral removal of a board member by the board, but speak with your association counsel on this issue.

To Pickleball or Not to Pickleball? That is the Question

By Rhonda R. Goldblatt, Esq.

Pickleball is one of America’s fastest-growing sports.[1] This surge has, in turn, generated professional tournaments, corporate sponsors, and professional players. Many homeowners, eager for a new amenity and a new hobby, have asked their community associations to create pickleball courts. Pickleball courts are relatively easy and cheap to create, especially if an association has an existing tennis court.[2] But while many boards may leap at the chance to buy in to the pickleball craze and give residents a new way to exercise, associations should be wary of potential issues that can accompany the new game. Below are a few issues to consider.

 

  1. Insurance. Pickleball related injuries are projected to cost Americans up to $500 million this year alone.[3] Given the potential for injuries related to the sport, associations should consider consulting with a qualified insurance expert to confirm they have adequate coverage in the event of any pickleball-related incidents.
  2. Noise. Pickleball can be noisy, and can in turn generate complaints from nearby residents. Therefore, associations may want to consider establishing rules limiting play to certain hours of the day, and consulting with qualified experts regarding sound-mitigating measures.
  3. Authority under the Governing Documents. Depending on the cost of the project, the exact changes to be made, and the terms of the association’s governing documents, creating a pickleball court may constitute a capital improvement requiring membership approval. Boards should confirm they have authority under their governing documents before altering the common area. When in doubt, consult with a qualified community association attorney.
  4. Consider a Trial Run. Associations can consider adopting a rule allowing pickleball play at existing facilities for a set amount of time with a sunset provision – for example, for thirty days – as a trial run, to see how pickleball fits into the community. The board can then review any member feedback received, and decide how to proceed.

 

 

 

[1] https://www.npr.org/2022/02/19/1081257674/americas-fastest-growing-sport-pickleball

[2] https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/court-diagram/do-it-yourself-guidelines/

[3] https://nbc-2.com/news/sports/2023/07/19/pickleball-injuries-costing-400m-nationally-the-alarming-toll-on-players-health/#:~:text=The%20most%20common%20types%20of,alongside%20the%20game’s%20unprecedented%20growth.

10 Things Community Associations Get Wrong!

Pejman D. Kharrazian, Esq.

Shareholder

858.527.0111
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Practices: Community Association Counsel | Commercial CID | Civil Litigation

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These are the top ten things I see landing community associations in hot water:

  1. Conditional Approvals for Architectural Applications

Don’t give conditional approval. Either approve or deny an owner’s architectural application. If there are “conditions” that would make an application approvable, deny the application, but welcome the owner to resubmit with the conditions addressed. Conditional approvals create ambiguity that can later cause problems for the association.

  1. Emailing Too Much

Cut back on emails? Sounds great!  There are (at least) two good reasons to cut down on emails:

First, under the Open Meetings Act (found in Sections 4900 et seq. of the Davis-Stirling Act), association business must generally be conducted at a duly noticed meeting. Emails amongst directors and management can easily run afoul of the Act and cross the line to an impermissible and illegal board meeting.

Second, most emails are discoverable in litigation. The less emails there are, the less there is to be discovered by a would-be plaintiff. In short, try to save most discussions for board meetings.

  1. Spilling the Beans

Many boards believe transparency is the touchstone of good governance. But that is not entirely true. The board, first and foremost, owes a duty to the association (the corporate entity). One of those duties is the duty of confidentiality. Certain information cannot and should not be shared with the membership. For example, confidential information discussed during executive session, attorney-client privileged information, information that compromises the privacy of owners (such as information related to assessments or member discipline), or information that can subject the association to liability should not be shared.

  1. Not Reading/Following Governing Documents

You mean I have to read all those governing documents? Yes! As a director, your decisions must be made with reasonable diligence, and that includes being familiar with the association’s governing documents (e.g., the CC&Rs, Bylaws, Condominium Plan, and Rules and Regulations). If the board cannot understand the provisions (yes, sometimes they can be confusing or poorly drafted) it should consult with legal counsel to help interpret.

  1. Overstepping Power/Authority

Powers and duties of the board can be found in the Davis-Stirling Act, other applicable laws, or the association’s governing documents. Boards are limited in the scope of their power and authority and need to ensure they stay within those boundaries. When in doubt, seek the advice of legal counsel, to determine whether the board has the authority to do what it is seeking to do.

  1. Inconsistent Enforcement

“Well, we let those owners do it because we like them” is not a good answer! The association’s governing documents need to be enforced uniformly and consistently. If the board gets heartburn when enforcing a rule or it is difficult to enforce, the underlying rule probably needs to be amended or repealed.

  1. Missing the Mark on Civil Rights or Fair Housing Issues

Discrimination and disability issues are major pitfalls for associations. Federal and state laws are quite onerous and technical in this area. Consult with legal counsel early and often on these issues, even just allegations, because a false step can be very costly for an association.

  1. Keeping Assessments Too Low

Often a director is heard saying:  “I was voted to the board to keep assessments low.” Keeping assessments low is important to the membership, for sure, but too often this notion is taken too far such that the association’s operating and reserve funds are not adequately funded. This can lead to deferred maintenance, large special assessments, and other problems.

  1. Responding to Online Posts

As a director, responding to online posts on social media is rarely, if ever, fruitful. A director or manager responding to social media posts can result in liability (defamation for example), be construed as speaking with the board’s authority, enflame the situation, or worse. So often, ignoring an online post or comment is the better move.

  1. Acting Without Legal Advice

The list of laws and cases that govern associations is large, and ever growing and evolving. Add in the provisions and requirements of your governing documents, and it quickly can become overwhelming, even for seasoned community managers. A bit of timely legal advice can make all the difference in staying on the right track and avoiding pitfalls and liabilities.

When the Votes Aren’t There, Don’t Despair

Pejman D. Kharrazian, Esq.

Shareholder

858.527.0111
Email
Practices: Community Association Counsel | Commercial CID | Civil Litigation

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An Overview of The Court Petition to Amend Process for CC&Rs

It can be challenging to amend your CC&Rs, especially when owner approval requirements are high. Some documents can require approval of up to 75% of all members before the CC&Rs can be amended. Absentee owners and voter apathy can further compound the challenge of getting enough owners to vote.

If your association has tried to amend your CC&Rs but has not been able to obtain the requisite approval, fret not, as there may be a way forward. Under California Civil Code section 4275, associations can file a petition with the state superior court to seek relief when the votes aren’t there. There are few statutory prerequisites to keep in mind:

      1. The association must have held a proper vote, meaning the vote was conducted in accordance with the association’s governing documents and applicable laws;
      1. At least a majority (over 50%) of all owners must have voted “yes” on the amendment; and
      1. The association must have made a “reasonably diligent effort” to solicit votes from owners and be able to make a showing to the court that it has.

If these threshold requirements are met, the association can move forward with petitioning the court to approve the amendment based on the affirmative votes actually received. The petition papers filed with the court require a large amount of information and supporting documents and should be prepared by the association’s legal counsel to ensure all statutory requirements are met. For example, the petition must demonstrate to the court’s satisfaction that the amendment is reasonable and that all owners (and any other parties entitled to notice under the CC&Rs) were provided sufficient notice of the court proceedings.

During the petition process, owners have an opportunity file opposition papers with the court. But granting the petition is ultimately within the judge’s discretion, and even in the face of owner opposition, judges are generally quite willing to grant such petitions if the statutory requirements are met.

The petition process can take anywhere from three to six months, or longer, depending on the court’s schedule.

PRACTICE TIP:  Since the petition to amend is essentially a lawsuit, the association should involve its legal counsel in the discussion as early as possible.

Assuming the court grants the petition, then the association can proceed with recording the CC&R amendment.

Finally, the court petition process can also be used for other governing documents, such as bylaws or articles of incorporations, under California Corporations Code Section 7515, and a request to amend CC&Rs and other governing documents can be filed together with the court in one streamlined petition.

Spotlight on Elections

Spotlight on Elections

A Brief Summary of Two Recent California Court of Appeal Decisions

By Mary M. Howell Esq.,CCAL, & Pejman D. Kharrazian, Esq.

Two recent California cases, Takiguchi v. Venetian Condo. Maintenance Corp. and Lake Lindero HOA v. Barone, focus on the ever popular issue of achieving quorum.

Takiguchi v. Venetian Condo. Maintenance Corp.

In Takiguchi v. Venetian Condo. Maintenance Corp. (2023) 90 Cal.App.5th 880, a small group of owners held multiple units and had controlled the board with its nominees for many years.  In January 2021, as the association moved toward its annual meeting to elect directors, there were opposition candidates lined up to change the complexion of the board.  The existing board sent out statutorily-prescribed notices of meeting and ballots, and engaged a professional inspector of elections.

Then the fun began.  The governing documents prescribed a quorum of 51% of the voting power, with a provision for a lower quorum for an adjourned meeting should the association fail to meet quorum at the initial meeting.  The notice of meeting anticipated a failure to achieve quorum, and actually noticed a follow-up meeting to take advantage of the lower quorum requirement for an adjourned meeting. The notice stated that members could participate by mail in ballot, or by attending the meeting virtually, since COVID-19 restrictions were in effect. Ballots were duly mailed to homeowners by the inspector of elections, and the inspector of elections kept a log of which owners had returned their ballots.  Ostensibly, to save money and given a long history of failures to achieve quorum, the inspector did not attend the first meeting.

On the date of the first meeting, there was confusion as to whether quorum had been achieved; in determining that quorum had not been met, management relied strictly on the number of written ballots which had been received by the inspector, and did not include persons who attended online.

The failure to count for purposes of quorum those who had not actually cast a written ballot but who appeared via internet did not sit well with the opposition.  One homeowner took pictures of the participants who were only appearing virtually.  Despite some of those images being identified only by screen names, the opposition was able to persuade the court of the identities of those participating virtually, and counting those as well as the received ballots, it was clear quorum had been achieved at the first meeting.

To compound its problems, the holdover board next voted against holding the (already noticed) subsequent meeting with its lower quorum.

The opposition filed a suit pursuant to Corporations Code Section 7510, which allows a court to order a meeting be held if the corporation’s board had failed or refused to do so.  In granting relief to the owners, the court noted that, despite no minutes having been kept, there was sufficient evidence quorum had been achieved at the first meeting.  The court accepted the identification of owners who had not submitted a written ballot but participated virtually, and counted those participants toward the quorum. In fashioning its remedy, the court ordered that a new meeting be held for the purpose of counting the ballots which had been received at that first meeting.

A dissenting opinion questioned whether the statute actually supported this type of relief, or whether instead the court should have ordered a new meeting to be held.  While the dissent is well reasoned, the remedy prescribed by the court saved the association the not insignificant costs of conducting a second election.

Lake Lindero HOA v. Barone

The second case, Lake Lindero HOA v. Barone (2023) 89 Cal.App.5th 834, concerned a recall vote.  Defendant was a former director of the association, who had resigned his position in order to take a paid position as the chief executive officer of the association.

Homeowners sought to recall the entire board pursuant to a petition by 5% of the members.  Corporations Code Section 7511 requires an association, within 20 days of receipt of such a petition, to notice a member meeting to vote on the issue of recall.  The board failed to do so, so the petitioning members sent out their own notice of meeting, and duly conducted the meeting.  When this meeting failed to achieve quorum, as prescribed by the association’s bylaws, an adjourned meeting was convened by the same homeowners, resulting in a diminished quorum.  The recall was successful, and a new board elected.

Unfortunately, the recalled board refused to leave, contesting the right of the new board to govern, including instructing management to disregard instructions from the new board.  The new board and association then filed this suit, asking the court to declare the validity of the recall, and to validate the new board’s termination of Defendant’s contract.

Held: new board 1, old board 0.  The trial court’s decision was affirmed on appeal.

The old board made the following arguments: (1) the bylaws required a majority of owners to vote for removal, despite a statute that allowed removal by a majority of a quorum,

(2) the statutes do not permit a reduced quorum, even if the bylaws do, and (3) the Corporations Code only allows a court to determine the validity of “elections”, not “recalls.”  The court properly rejected all of these arguments.  First, the statute which discusses the percentage vote required for recall (§ 7222) specifically states that it will override any contrary language in bylaws.  Second, even though the recall statute doesn’t specifically authorize a lower quorum for adjourned meeting, another statute (§ 7512) specifically provides that bylaws may set a lower quorum for meetings.   As to the third point, the court found that Corporations Code Section 7616, which allows a court to validate election results, should be read broadly to permit a court to review recall votes as well.

Takeaways from the two cases:

  1. Achieving a quorum at annual meetings is always difficult. Keeping an accurate list of ballots cast is essential, and if a virtual meeting is going to play a part in the proceedings, protocols to establish the identity of participants is essential.
  2. Minutes need to be kept. While the focus is often on board meeting minutes, annual meeting minutes are critical in determining quorum issues, notice issues, motions of adjournment, and the like.
  3. Any communication between the board, management, and inspectors of election on quorum issues needs to be memorialized in a writing, such as an email.
  4. Statutes and bylaws need to be read together. In some cases, statutes override contrary language in the bylaws.  In other cases, statutes provide that bylaws may differ from the code.  A firm knowledge of both the relevant statutes and the association’s specific bylaws (and election rules, though neither case referred to them) is essential in any election, whether the annual election of directors or a recall vote.
  5. You can’t stop your analysis with the Davis-Stirling Act. Despite the increasingly complex election protections written into the Act, neither of these cases referenced the Davis-Stirling Act.  Both were decided entirely by reference to the Corporations Code.

FDIC Insurance- Protecting the Association’s Bank Deposits

By Jon H. Epsten

Throughout my entire career as a community association attorney, boards of directors and homeowners have asked me, ‘why can’t we invest association funds in the stock market or other uninsured cash investments?’ This is a particularly hot topic for those associations that have large sums of cash in the bank.

The answer is simple: the association’s money belongs to the non-profit organization, not to the individual directors. The board acts as a fiduciary when managing the association funds. While some debate the industry’s position in conservatively investing association cash accounts in certificates of deposits (CDs), the association’s fiduciary duty is to minimize the risk of loss of the funds and conserve principal. By placing the funds in insured (FDIC/NCUA/SIPC) or government backed securities, the accounts are backed by the U.S. Government. This investment strategy is low risk but oftentimes has low returns. California Civil Code section 5380 is not a model of clarity on investing and protecting the association’s deposits, but suggests that the standard of care or best practices is to place association cash in FDIC insured accounts or with a guarantee corporation.

There seems to be some confusion among boards and even financial advisors on what constitutes an insured FDIC deposit. The Federal Insurance Corporation states that deposits are insured up to a least $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC insured bank, per ownership category. Thus, the FDIC insures deposits according to the ownership category in which the funds are insured and how the accounts are titled. To obtain the full benefit of FDIC insurance, the association should only have one account at one bank with no more than $250,000 in the account.

Multiple accounts under the same association tax identification number at one bank do not afford additional insurance, as the insured cap is $250,000 per ownership category (different rules may apply to other types of deposits e.g., trusts). If your association has over $250,000 in any single financial institution, how do you protect the money? You have two options:

1) Open up accounts at different FDIC (or other insured) banks and maintain a balance of no more than $250,000 in each account; and/or

2) Contact your financial institution to explore establishing a “sweep account.”

With Option 1 above, for example, if the association has $1,000,000 it would open up bank accounts in at least four different FDIC insured banks, making the funds fully FDIC insured. Most associations that have large sums of money will maintain a balance under $250,000 in each bank to insure earned interest that accrues in the account is also protected.

What is a “sweep account?”

Generally speaking, it is a bank or brokerage account that automatically transfers amounts exceeding a certain level into an interest-earning account at the close of each business day.  This may or may not be the right option for your association, but it is worth considering.  We recommend you discuss this option with your financial advisor or tax preparer to confirm it is a good option for your association.

Consider these practice pointers:

1) Always check to make sure the financial institution(s) your association uses has insured deposits through the FDIC, NCUA or SIPC;

2) Consult with a financial advisor, banker and your management company for assistance in investing and protecting funds. Your attorney is not your financial advisor;

3) Consider “laddering” your CD accounts into different banks;

4) Review your governing documents to verify if there are any restrictions on investing in association funds; and

5) It is Not Your Money! The way you may invest your personal funds may not be suitable for a non-profit mutual benefit corporation to invest its funds.