Friends of RMWBH,
Thank you for your continued loyalty, trust and support you continue to show RMWBH. The close of another year is almost upon us. While it has been another year spent within our bubble, the bubble is finally showing signs of bursting, delta variant and all! Events are returning nationwide and we are able to come together with our neighbors and friends once again. As we look back on this year in the property owners association (POA) industry, I wish I could say it was uneventful, but from start to finish it has moved faster than the eye could see.
To kick off the year, in the midst of continuing to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, mother nature threw us all for a loop by bringing devastatingly cold air to all of Texas. We all remember the results. Days without power while temperatures barely made it above 20 degrees. POAs, especially high-rise, mid-rise and low-rise condominiums, were hit particularly hard with their fire suppression systems. But, while members of our communities were dealing with flooding from busted pipes and caved in ceilings, the Texas spirit shined through with neighbors helping neighbors recover and rebuild.
Through all of this an important lesson was reaffirmed for those of us in the POA industry – always expect the unexpected. While it is unlikely we will see an event like the freeze again any time soon, as winter approaches, POAs should begin making plans to prepare and take action now. If your POA did not take action after the freeze, do not wait until it is too late. Consult with your insurance agent to ensure the POA has the proper coverage to protect association assets.
As POAs and their members were recovering from Winter Storm Uri, the Texas Legislature was busy creating and passing bills that will have ramifications on POAs for years to come. Throughout the year, RMWBH attorneys kept you updated through our blog and webinars of all of the changes from Austin. We cannot thank you enough for your response and words of encouragement to keep the information coming and I can promise you the information will continue. Our goal remains to continue to educate our clients on every aspect of the POA industry to improve the industry for all.
Due to the results of the legislative session, all of RMWBH’s POA attorneys have been hard at work over the last several months drafting new and revising existing policies and management certificates for many of you. Heading into the new year, we want to ensure all POAs are compliant with the new laws. If your association has not updated its policies or management certificate, it is not too late. Please reach out to us or your current legal counsel before your association is faced with potential legal and financial ramifications.
Finally, when we look ahead to 2022, we hope for brighter and slightly warmer winter days and the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. We should all also keep in mind the next legislative session is always right around the corner. Bill filling for the 88th Legislative Session begins in one year. To prevent further legislative changes that could bring negative effects to the POA industry, we should all be speaking to our legislators throughout 2022 and reminding them of the benefits that POAs bring to Texas.
As another holiday season approaches, we want to wish you and your family a happy and healthy season of cheer. The November newsletter will mark our last issue for this year, but don’t worry, we will be back in January with exciting new features to continue to bring you the best in POA related legal information and education. I look forward to seeing many of you in the new year.
Sincerely,
Clint Brown
Equity Shareholder
RMWBH Law
