Condo Self Management Laws

D.K. from New Haven County writes:

Dear Mister Condo,

What is the law about self management for a condo association in Connecticut?

Mister Condo replies:

D.K., as far as I know, there aren’t any laws about self-management for condo associations in Connecticut. In fact, many successful condominiums and HOAs are self-managed. They still need to follow state laws about common interest ownership properties which are outlined in laws such as the Common Interest Ownership Act (also known as CIOA) and they need to be mindful that functioning without the help or guidance of a licensed property manager may be challenging but many of the folks I know who serve on the Boards of these properties have told me that they wouldn’t have it any other way. Of course, it takes a group of dedicated volunteers to self-manage a condominium. I know of several self-managed properties who have actually hired on-site property management and maintenance personnel to deal with the day-to-day issues. The difference between this type of association and an association that hires a management company is that the property manager and maintenance personnel work directly for the association and not for a third-party management firm. Another task that is commonly outsourced by self-managed communities is the accounting and bookkeeping tasks. I think that is a great practice as it adds one more layer of protection for the association in safeguarding its assets. Thanks for the question!