J.K. from Cook County, Illinois writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
As a member of our HOA Board, I wonder if you can give me some ideas on what we can do to force homeowners to pay the assessments that are in the arrears. We send a cordial letter after 30 days but we have more than a few who are habitually late. What is the surest way of getting our money? A lien is only good at sale so that doesn’t ignite the homeowners to pay. Collection takes too long, what are your thoughts for demand of possession? Any thoughts are appreciated.
Mister Condo replies:
J.K., there are many reasons for a homeowner to become delinquent but an HOA cannot worry itself over the reasons why. Timely collection of fees is the lifeblood of the HOA and the duty lies squarely on the shoulders of the Board to make sure ALL homeowners are paying in a timely fashion and that everything possible is being done to protect the interests of the association to “encourage” those homeowners who have become delinquent. You have already mentioned some of the things that can be done but I have a recommendation for you that you may not have considered. Right here on my website, you can take the first step to correcting this problem. Simply go to the page entitled “Collect Your Fees!” (https://askmistercondo.com/collect-your-fees/) and fill out the brief questionnaire. We’ll give you a free and fast consultation and help you collect your fees. All the best!