Q: My HOA has recently passed a $1,000 a month assessment to each owner of a condominium which has been rented out, with a vague explanation that it is to cover expenses to the homeowners. What is your assessment of that onerous charge? — M.M., Santa Monica

Q: Can an HOA charge owners who rent out their condo an additional amount as the monthly assessment? Or can the association impose certain fees on owners who rent out their condo such as a fee for lease review? — T.T., San Diego

A: HOAs can only assess for their actual reasonable costs, under Civil Code Section 5600. Some HOAs have move-in or move-out fees, but still the fee must be roughly connected to identifiable costs directly connected to a resident moving. This was confirmed in the 2015 appellate opinion in Watts v. Oak Shores.

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