California condo owners are fighting back after their homeowners association approved a multimillion-dollar emergency assessment that they say could cripple them financially. The uproar comes from a Torrance condo complex, where residents received assessments of more than $49,000 each to help pay for sweeping repairs, ABC7 reports. The 499-unit property faces at least $19 million in work, including a $13 million overhaul of the building’s podium, along with repairs to plumbing and elevators. An aerial view of the office parks at dusk in Torrance, California. Getty Images A Torrance condo owner reacts to a $49,000 special assessment fee that applies to all owners of the 499-unit complex in Torrance, California. Homeowners in the complex face a $24 million emergency charge approved by their homeowners association. ABC7 It follows a similar battle in San Clemente, where the owners of the 198-unit Villa Moura complex were ordered to pay more than $26,000 each for an appraisal, for a total of more than $5 million. Stephen Wang, who lives in the Torrance complex, said, “I was stunned, as most residents here are.” He continued, “The HOA decided to redo the entire podium, the entire podium, and that became a $13 million project, plus renovating the plumbing and the elevators, so it amounted to $19 million.” He added that the huge bill came after the HOA decided to tackle several major projects at once, leaving residents scrambling to figure out how they could pay their share. A condo owner in Torrance, California, was shocked to learn he would be charged more than $49,000 as part of a special assessment approved by his homeowners association. The fee applies to all owners of the 499-unit complex, for a total of $24 million in emergency charges. ABC7 In San Clemente, residents have argued that the work should not have been classified as an emergency and that the association should have given homeowners a greater say in how repairs were handled. Noah Martin, who lives there, said the roof project did not qualify as an emergency under California regulations. He added: “It didn’t fit into the California Code of Regulations, 5610. Clearly, it wasn’t an emergency; it’s deferred maintenance. So we as members should vote on how we want to take care of the roofs.” Residents also say the Homeowners Association has threatened to place liens on properties belonging to homeowners who do not pay the assessment. “They have pushed back, arguing that the roofs were not leaking and that replacing the underlying material might be enough instead of ripping out all the shingles. A Torrance condo owner was shocked to learn he would be charged more than $49,000 as part of a special assessment approved by his homeowners association in Torrance, California. The fee applies to all owners of the 499-unit complex as part of a $24 million emergency charge. ABC7 Adam Dubin, another homeowner, said residents want the HOA to compare prices before committing to such an expensive project. “What we would like to do is submit several offers competitively and actually negotiate them in the best interest of the homeowners. As the board should be doing with its fiduciary responsibilities to us,” Dubin said. For some residents, the payment options have done little to ease the financial pain. Homeowners in San Clemente were offered the option of paying the assessment up front, splitting it into two payments or adding more than $2,000 to their monthly bill for six months, followed by another $400 monthly payment. “Retired, single, what, losing my house? You would not qualify for a refinance loan. So where are you going? said owner Albright. HOA attorney and expert Michael Kushner said special assessments have become increasingly common, pointing to rising insurance costs and California’s balcony inspection requirements as factors. But he warned that associations can sometimes go beyond their legal authority. He said, “It’s a very unequal relationship, simply by virtue of the fact that the HOA has everyone’s money to play with, and the HOA has the authority to impose discipline.” California homeowners also face an unusual hurdle when disputes arise: There is no state regulatory agency that specifically oversees homeowners’ associations. The Davis-Stirling Act sets rules governing associations and provides protections for homeowners, but Kushner said parts of the law could be strengthened and clarified. Torrance homeowners have taken their fight to court and are also seeking to remove their HOA board of directors. Download the California Post app, follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletters. California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedInCalifornia Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube,
