Condo Media - September 2013 - 22

HOMEOWNER’S
COLUMN NAME CORNER

Rights and Responsibilities
Principles for Homeowners and Community Leaders

here is a difference between living in a community and being
part of that community. Being
part of a community means sharing with your neighbors a common desire to promote harmony and contentment. This goal is best achieved when
homeowners, non-owner residents, and
association leaders recognize and accept
their rights and responsibilities.
With this goal in mind, Community
Associations Institute (CAI) developed
Rights and Responsibilities for Better
Communities. By encouraging community associations to adopt Rights and

Responsibilities for Better Communities, CAI strives to promote harmony,
community, responsible citizenship, and
effective leadership.

Let Rights and Responsibilities Help Your Community

The process of formally adopting
Rights and Responsibilities will give
communities an excellent opportunity
for the kind of dialogue that facilitates
awareness, builds consensus, and promotes greater community involvement.
As greater numbers of associations
adopt Rights and Responsibilities —

Representing Condominium Associations, Homeowner
Associations and Management Companies throughout
New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts.
Providing representation in all areas of condominium
law from drafting and execution of condominium
instruments, amendments, collection of assessments to
litigation from trial through appeal.
For specific questions and to find out how we can
service your particular needs, please contact our office
and speak with one of our attorneys.

(603) 627-5997

45 Bay Street
Manchester, NH 03104

(603) 742-1052
3 Webb Place
Dover, NH 03820

(800) 828-3200

565 Turnpike Street
North Andover, MA 01845

www.fenigeranduliasz.com
Serving clients in all of NH and northern MA
22

CONDO MEDIA • SEPTEMBER 2013

and adhere to its principles — there
will be less potential for conﬂict
within communities, and ultimately,
more people will understand the nature and value of community association living.

How You Can
Make it Happen

Adopting Rights and Responsibilities
for Better Communities is easy!
• Download the Rights and Responsibilities document at www.caionline.org.
• Distribute the document throughout
your community, announcing and
publicizing where and when adoption will be considered.
• Explain why this is important to your
community and the beneﬁts it can
create.
• Review and discuss the merits of the
principles at an open meeting of your
board.
• Solicit input from homeowners.
• Have your board vote to adopt a
resolution endorsing Rights and
Responsibilities for Better Communities. The principles will be
more meaningful to homeowners
and community leaders if they are
formally adopted.
Like many worthwhile endeavors,
community living cannot be free of
conﬂict. Utopia does not exist. With
all of their inherent advantages, community associations often face difﬁcult
issues. While adopting Rights and
Responsibilities will not eliminate all
conﬂict, its adoption can stimulate
communication, promote trust and
cooperation, clarify expectations, and
build a greater sense of community. CM

http://www.caionline.org

Condo Media - September 2013

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