Evontar Blog
Practical guides and perspectives for HOA board members, community managers, and neighborhood organizers.
- 6 min readJeremy Diaz
HOA Intercom and Telephone Entry System: Maintenance, Upgrades, and Access Credential Management
Entry intercom systems are the primary visitor access interface in multi-unit buildings and among the most neglected pieces of building technology. A guide to maintaining legacy analog telephone entry systems, evaluating IP and video intercom upgrades, managing resident directory and access credentials, contractor access management, and capital planning for entry system replacement.
Read post → - 6 min readJeremy Diaz
HOA Rooftop Terrace Rules: Use Policies, Waterproofing Protection, Noise, and Safety Compliance
Rooftop terraces are high-demand amenities that require clear rules to protect the building membrane, manage noise and hours, prevent unsafe use, and handle private event reservations. A guide to roof waterproofing protection policies, noise and hours rules, safety requirements including guardrail inspection and wind load furniture anchoring, reservation systems, and seasonal maintenance.
Read post → - 6 min readJeremy Diaz
HOA Condo Water Heater Responsibility: Individual vs. Central Systems, Replacement Rules, and Insurance
Water heater responsibility in condominium buildings depends on the system type, unit boundary definition in the governing documents, and equipment location. A guide to determining responsibility for individual unit vs. central DHW systems, water heaters in shared plumbing chases, insurance coverage for water heater failures, and energy code requirements for replacement units.
Read post → - 6 min readJeremy Diaz
HOA Common Area WiFi: Network Design, Segmentation, Bandwidth Management, and Liability
WiFi in HOA common areas has become an expected amenity that creates operational complexity a consumer router cannot handle. A guide to commercial WiFi network design, why network segmentation from building systems is critical, bandwidth and user management for shared networks, DMCA liability and acceptable use policies for shared internet access, and managed service versus self-managed infrastructure.
Read post → - 6 min readJeremy Diaz
HOA Vendor Background Checks: Screening Contractors, Staff, and Service Providers with Building Access
Contractors and service providers with unescorted building access represent a security risk that background screening can mitigate. A guide to screening requirements for different access levels, background check components, FCRA and ban-the-box legal constraints, requiring screening compliance in vendor contracts, management company employee screening, and documenting compliance for liability protection.
Read post → - 6 min readJeremy Diaz
HOA Loans for Capital Improvements: When Borrowing Makes More Sense Than a Special Assessment
When an HOA faces a large capital project, borrowing money and repaying it through increased monthly assessments often causes less financial hardship than a lump-sum special assessment. Learn how HOA association loans work, what legal authority boards have to borrow, what lenders specialize in community association financing, and when a loan is the better choice.
Read post → - 6 min readJeremy Diaz
HOA Enforcement and Attorney Fee Recovery: How Civil Code §5975 Works
California Civil Code §5975 gives the prevailing party in any action to enforce HOA governing documents the right to recover reasonable attorney fees — and it applies symmetrically to both HOAs and owners. Learn how the prevailing party is determined, how pre-litigation IDR and ADR requirements affect fee recovery, and how boards should factor fee exposure into enforcement decisions.
Read post → - 6 min readJeremy Diaz
HOA Member Votes: When California Law Requires the Full Membership to Weigh In
Most HOA governance decisions are board decisions — but a specific category requires a vote of the full membership. Learn which actions require member approval under California law: CC&R amendments, large special assessments exceeding 5% of annual gross income, exclusive use common area assignments, and director elections — and what vote thresholds apply.
Read post → - 6 min readJeremy Diaz
HOA Legal Counsel: Selecting an HOA Attorney, Retainer Arrangements, and Managing Legal Costs
Every HOA board needs legal counsel with specific community association expertise. Learn how to select an attorney, the difference between retainer and as-needed arrangements, how attorney-client privilege applies to board communications, and how to manage legal costs so they don't consume a disproportionate share of the operating budget.
Read post → - 6 min readJeremy Diaz
HOA Roof Leak Damage to Units: Who Pays for Water Intrusion from the Common Area Roof
When a condo roof leak damages a unit, the association's liability depends on whether it was negligent in maintaining the roof. Learn how California Civil Code §4775 applies to roof maintenance responsibility, how courts analyze association liability, how insurance claims are coordinated, and how to respond to roof leak reports to protect both the owner and the association.
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