Doubling Down on Your Board’s Commitment to Transparency

Condo association board members in Florida have major responsibilities. They are leading multi-million dollar non-profit organizations and are doing so in a voluntary capacity. If you sit on your HOA’s board, you likely feel the pressure of this role. In addition to leadership decisions the board needs to make, they must also manage other aspects of community living, and invariably tensions between the board and residents can arise. 

One way to quell tensions and improve community relations and governance decisions is to double down on your board’s commitment to transparency. 

“Why Isn’t My Condo Board Being Transparent?”

Transparency is always a hot topic in Florida HOA communities, and this is a question we as community law attorneys hear often – “Why isn’t the board being transparent?” 

Transparency is clearly an issue in HOAs, and it can be a big problem for associations. When condo owners feel left in the dark, they are more likely to lose trust in leadership or feel disenchanted by board management. Non-transparent practices can also lead to an increased risk of mismanagement or uncontrolled board authority, as well as growing tensions and conflicts among residents. 

Transparent communication is perhaps the single most important thing board members can do to instill confidence and trust in their leadership. Even if your board does a better-than-average job of communicating with condo owners about decisions and finances, there’s always room to improve. 

Strategies for Enhancing Transparency in Your HOA

To improve transparency, board members need to provide consistent, comprehensive financial disclosures and offer accessible board meetings. They should also promote resident participation in governance decisions. The goal of transparency is to build a sense of collaboration rather than antagonism between residents and the board. Here are a few things to do:

• Hold open board meetings – Residents should know when and where meetings take place and feel welcome to attend.

• Provide accessible information – Important HOA information should be easily accessible to all residents. A community website or online portal can be a good place to share meeting minutes, financial reports, governing documents and other community information. 

• Provide detailed and transparent financial reports regularly – Share financial documents, budget summaries, and other financial reports so residents can see how their fees are being used.

• Establish clear communication channels – Communicate with the community regularly through newsletters and other community forums. Be sure residents also know how to reach board members.

• Form committees and encourage community involvement – Building community is the best way to break down barriers.

For more HOA leadership tips and community law insight, contact our team at Dania Fernandez and Associates, P.A. In addition, I recently spoke before the Florida House Regulatory Reform and Economic Development Subcommittee on the issue of “Hot Topics in Florida HOAs” during which I discussed transparency as a key issue. You can watch a full recording of the House session here.