With the passing of the Washington Uniform Common Interest Homeownership Act (WUCIOA), many common interest communities will need to amend their governing documents. The act details how condominium and homeowners associations should manage the community and comply with the law. A condo association management company can help boards create efficient practices under WUCIOA; this includes preparing for ongoing compliance. Here are some tips for maintaining compliance:
Update Governing Documents
WUCIOA will come into full effect on January 1, 2028, and it will apply to all condo and HOA communities. This includes communities established before July 1, 2018, when WUCIOA was first enacted. Updating pre-WUCIOA governing documents helps verify that communities have compliant practices. These documents include the declarations, bylaws, rules and regulations, and architectural guidelines that establish the association’s operations. An association’s documents should update restrictions and procedures that may conflict with WUCIOA guidelines.
Establish Compliant Practices
As community associations transition to WUCIOA practices, they will need to standardize workflows and procedures. This helps boards apply requirements consistently and identify which day-to-day operations will be affected by WUCIOA. Boards are also able to confirm responsibilities aren’t overlooked, helping prevent non-compliance risks. Some operations and policies that associations may need to adapt to maintain compliance include:
- Board Meetings: Formalizing board meetings helps associations have streamlined processes in areas such as taking meeting minutes and making decisions. Under WUCIOA, most meetings should be open to homeowners, with a set time allotted to them for participation.
- Payment Methods: Associations will need to verify that they provide homeowners with one payment method that doesn’t require fees to use. This may include mailed-in checks or in-person payments.
- EV Charging and Heat Pumps: Creating clear standards for installing EV charging stations and heat pumps allows communities to comply with WUCIOA. The act states that associations can’t unreasonably restrict homeowners from installing these systems, but they should provide guidelines to maintain safety and aesthetics standards.
Prepare for Ongoing Compliance
Regularly reviewing and adjusting policies helps associations maintain ongoing compliance as WUCIOA is rolled out in stages. This confirms that policies reflect current changes and regulations. When associations create an annual meeting schedule, boards can discuss and apply any notices. Establishing templates for meetings and agendas verifies that policies remain uniform and meet legal obligations.
Consistent meetings and procedures help associations stay informed about regulatory enforcement. Boards that are educated about upcoming changes are better prepared to align their procedures with governance standards. Associations can train new board members about WUCIOA, so when previous individuals leave the association, institutional knowledge remains. Training may involve reviewing written documents about current compliance practices and providing access to detailed minutes on previous board meetings.
Learn More About WUCIOA
Boards in Washington should begin reviewing their governance documents and policies, so they can verify they will have compliant practices when WUCIOA is established in their community. A condo association management company supports boards in implementing these practices. Managers inform residents about updated policies through texting, emailing, or a web portal to make sure communication is transparent and consistent. Contact a management company today to receive support while navigating the transition to WUCIOA.
