A former Florida condominium association bookkeeper was arrested earlier this month on charges of stealing almost $500,000 from the association since 2005. The individual allegedly wrote checks to herself, transferred association funds into her personal account, and submitted fraudulent invoices. It was reported last week that an audit of a Virginia community association discovered nearly $700,000 missing from its accounts. The association’s treasurer disappeared at the end of June. Proper maintenance and evaluation of association records can help boards avoid problems of this magnitude.
The state laws that govern Washington condominium and homeowners associations do not specify what records should be maintained or how long they should be kept. It can be inferred that financial documents like bills and receipts should be kept at least the length of time necessary for them to be reviewed during the annual CPA audit (mandatory for Washington condominiums consisting of more than 50 units and mandatory subject to annual waiver for all other Washington condominiums and also Washington homeowners associations with annual assessments of $50,000 or more).
The state law governing Washington nonprofit corporations requires them to maintain, among other documents, financial statements and meeting minutes at their registered offices. Washington condominium and homeowners associations that are nonprofit corporations should comply with this law. The state law governing Washington profit corporations requires them to maintain meeting minutes on a permanent basis and states that they must keep, among other documents, shareholder meeting minutes, annual financial statements, and communications to shareholders at their registered offices for at least three years. Boards could decide to comply with those standards as an added safeguard. The governing documents of many associations contain specific record-keeping requirements that must be followed as well.
Diligent maintenance and evaluation of association records can help boards make more informed financial decisions, defend against owners’ claims of misconduct, and spot theft of association funds more quickly. Boards should ensure that their association records policies allow them to take advantage of those benefits.
The state laws that govern Washington condominium and homeowners associations do not specify what records should be maintained or how long they should be kept. It can be inferred that financial documents like bills and receipts should be kept at least the length of time necessary for them to be reviewed during the annual CPA audit (mandatory for Washington condominiums consisting of more than 50 units and mandatory subject to annual waiver for all other Washington condominiums and also Washington homeowners associations with annual assessments of $50,000 or more).
The state law governing Washington nonprofit corporations requires them to maintain, among other documents, financial statements and meeting minutes at their registered offices. Washington condominium and homeowners associations that are nonprofit corporations should comply with this law. The state law governing Washington profit corporations requires them to maintain meeting minutes on a permanent basis and states that they must keep, among other documents, shareholder meeting minutes, annual financial statements, and communications to shareholders at their registered offices for at least three years. Boards could decide to comply with those standards as an added safeguard. The governing documents of many associations contain specific record-keeping requirements that must be followed as well.
Diligent maintenance and evaluation of association records can help boards make more informed financial decisions, defend against owners’ claims of misconduct, and spot theft of association funds more quickly. Boards should ensure that their association records policies allow them to take advantage of those benefits.
