Active Adult HOA Management: How Do Active Senior Homeowners Benefit From This?

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Active adult HOA management is essential to ensure a senior community runs smoothly. Professional management is beneficial to the HOA itself and to all of the residents who are a part of it.

What is Active Adult HOA Management?

An active adult homeowners association is a development that primarily caters to residents aged 55 and over. These communities offer a trouble-free way of living for older people. 

On the other hand, active adult HOA management refers to the oversight of HOAs within senior living communities. Although senior residents enjoy independence, social connections, and activities, they are not always interested in management. As such, many active adult communities are managed professionally by an HOA management company.

An HOA management company helps address active adult developments’ and residents’ unique needs. This company ensures the community is properly maintained and remains a desirable place to call home. While preserving property values is a priority, other objectives include enforcing age restrictions and planning activities tailored to the community’s demographics.

Struggles of Managing an Active Adult Community

Like every homeowners association, an active adult HOA is also led by an HOA board. This HOA board is responsible for overseeing operations and maintenance. In many ways, they function as the leaders of the community, elected by their constituents.

Running an active adult community is no easy task, though. These communities face challenges that tend to differ from other neighborhoods.

For one thing, active adult communities have age restrictions. Usually, the requirement for 55+ percent must be met. Upholding this requirement can come as a challenge, but it’s vital in preserving the community’s identity.

Many active adult communities also boast a busy calendar of activities. Board members must plan the calendar of events right down to the nitty-gritty details and ensure a smooth execution. Beyond that, active adult communities must maintain common areas to ensure health and safety, manage funds, communicate with residents, and resolve disputes that arise.

These things, combined with the members’ personal and professional obligations, can quickly become burdensome. Senior board members who lack the time, energy, and resources to dedicate to active adult HOA management are better off hiring professionals.

Benefits of Active Senior Community Management

When done correctly, active adult HOA management poses several benefits for senior homeowners.

1. Upholding Age Restriction

Although rules can vary from one association to another, one of the defining ones for active adult communities is an age restriction. This restriction can range anywhere from 45+ to 62+, though 55+ is arguably the most common. Some associations may not have age restrictions but cater primarily to the lifestyle of active adults.

The Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to practice housing discrimination based on age. However, 55+ are the legal exception. More often than not, the rules of an active adult community will state that at least 80 percent of households have one or more 55+ residents. The policies and procedures of the HOA must also display the intent to operate as a community with age restrictions.

Professional HOA management ensures compliance with federal housing laws while enforcing these restrictions. This preserves the community’s culture and ensures that it continues to meet residents’ expectations.

2. Planning Activities and Social Events

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Social interaction is a cornerstone of active adult living. Professional HOA management companies can organize events like fitness classes, book clubs, and holiday parties. These activities help foster connections among senior residents, keeping them engaged and active.

Planning events and activities, though, is much easier said than done. A lot goes into it, such as contacting suppliers and vendors, booking venues, sending out invites, promoting the events, and ensuring everything runs smoothly on the event day. For a 55+ HOA board, this can all quickly become overwhelming.

Professional companies are already well-versed in the art of event management. Having planned countless similar events, everything comes as second nature to them. These companies often have strong connections with vendors, suppliers, and the like. This leverages them in a better position to ask for discounts.

A full calendar also encourages residents to stay mentally and physically healthy. They participate in group activities tailored to their interests and needs.

3. Ensuring Smooth Financial Management

Proper financial management is essential to keep the community running. However, it’s also one of the things that most HOAs find difficult. It takes a certain level of skill and knowledge to pull off successfully.

Professional HOA managers handle everything from budget planning and fee collection to tax preparation and financial reporting. This ensures the association stays financially healthy.

For senior members, proper financial management spells transparency and accountability. They can remain aware of where their dues are going. This gives them peace of mind about their investment in the community.

4. Overseeing Rule Enforcement

Consistency is key when it comes to rule enforcement. A professional HOA management company can help enforce the rules and manage violations while ensuring the association keeps liability at bay. A manager can ensure everyone follows the guidelines, including architectural changes, pets, or parking.

Beyond identifying violations and sending out notices, managers can also help carry out penalties. Typically, this involves levying a monetary fine and/or temporarily suspending member privileges. Professional HOA managers can oversee all this while ensuring the association complies with federal and state laws.

5. Managing Amenities and Common Areas

Active adult communities often feature pools, tennis courts, and clubhouses. Proper HOA management ensures regular maintenance and, if necessary, repairs to these facilities. In doing so, residents are safe to use these amenities.

Senior board members can’t always conduct regular inspections, though. Fortunately, an HOA management company can take over, performing inspections, prompt repairs, and preventive maintenance.

6. Mediating Disputes

Conflicts between neighbors or with the board are normal in any community. However, it’s important not to let these disputes fester or escalate, as they can disrupt the community’s harmony. Managers can act as neutral mediators, helping to resolve disputes professionally and efficiently. This promotes a friendly and respectful environment for everyone in the association.

7. Managing Insurance

Active adult communities require comprehensive insurance coverage for common areas, amenities, and liability. Professional HOA managers can review and manage policies on behalf of the board. They can ensure adequate coverage while keeping costs reasonable.

Their duties don’t stop there, though. When it comes to insurance, professional managers can also assist in filing claims should the need arise. This protects the HOA’s finances and helps the community recover quickly from unexpected events or accidents.

8. Maintaining Communication

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Clear communication is critical in any HOA setting. Board members must stay in contact with each other as well as the residents of the community. Without proper communication, it is easy for trust to wither. Soon enough, residents will start asking questions and accusing the board of keeping secrets.

With professional HOA management, communication can be a breeze. Managers often use various methods to keep residents informed, such as newsletters, bulletin boards, and online portals. They also handle the administrative work associated with communication, including sending notices and emails. This helps ensure that residents stay updated about what’s happening in their community.

9. Complying With Laws

Homeowners associations must adhere to federal, state, and local laws — and active adult communities are no exception. Keeping up with ever-changing legislation, though, can come as a challenge to senior board members. It is not always easy to navigate through online updates or understand these laws’ legal jargon.

Managers can help ensure that the association complies with current and changing laws. This reduces the risk of liability or legal issues. More often than not, HOA management companies have lawyers on retainer. These lawyers typically have a lot of experience dealing with HOAs and the various laws that affect them.

10. Assisting the Board

Typically, HOA boards in active adult communities consist of volunteer residents. Due to the nature of these communities, these volunteer residents are usually aged 55 and above. Moreover, these residents prioritize their active adult lifestyles, careers, and families, leaving no room for additional duties.

Professional HOA management provides these board members with administrative support, expert advice, and guidance on the best practices in the industry. Management companies can also take over such communities’ day-to-day operations and management. This leaves the HOA board members with the decision-making power and plans for the future.

A Better Option

Active adult HOA management plays a vital role in ensuring the success of senior living communities. Many board members, though, struggle with self-management and would rather dedicate themselves to other ventures. With an HOA management company, boards can delegate the more tedious tasks to professionals.

Personalized Property Management offers active adult community management services around Southern California. Call us at 760-325-9500 or fill out this form if you have any questions!

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