New Legislation Passed to Protect Condo Owners’ Rights

Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy has signed a bill that requires condo property managers to be certified and also blocks associations from prohibiting owners from placing religious symbols on their doors.

The bill, 5536, requires condo associations to allow small religious signs on individual owners’ doors. This issue is important because one condo association fined a Jewish owner because she violated the association’s rules by having a small Mezuzah on her door.

5536 also provides for new educational requirements and background checks for condo property managers. It is important because it will help assure that professionals hired by or working with condo owners will adhere to a high standard of conduct in their powerful positions working with condo associations.

Officials of the (click to sign up) Connecticut Condo Owners Coalition fought for the legislation, which had little opposition in the General Assembly. The Connecticut Chapter of the Community Associations Institute, which represents condo management companies and condo attorneys, also supported the bill.

The governor has yet to say whether he would sign a second condo legislation that is aimed at one condo complex in Southbury. 5511 would eliminate the requirement that more than 50 percent of condo owners must vote AGAINST a special assessment or annual budget for it to be defeated. The bill only applies to Heritage Village in Southbury, with more than 2,400 units, because that is where the issue was particularly crucial.