“Our HOA lets unlicensed and uninsured vendors do major maintenance and repair work around our property. We are a mix of duplexes and single family homes. I know that handyman services cannot exceed $500 per job but they are paying tens of thousands of dollars for work and boasting about ‘saving money.’ I’m talking about work on our pools, our gym, duplex roofs, etc. Big stuff. What can we do about this?”

Allowing unlicensed and uninsured vendors to perform major maintenance and repair work around your community is a cause for concern. It poses a risk of liability if someone is injured or if the work is not done correctly.

Assuming you have already raised this issue with your HOA board, it is important to ensure that they review their vendor policies and ensure they only use licensed and insured vendors for major maintenance and repair work. You can also ask for transparency on how vendors are selected and what criteria are used to evaluate them, as decisions based solely on cost may not be in the community’s best interest.

If the HOA board is unresponsive, you can gather support from other homeowners and raise your concerns as a group during an HOA meeting. You may also consider hiring an attorney who specializes in HOA law to advise you on your options and potentially take legal action if necessary.

Gathering copies of contracts and invoices from your HOA is also recommended. Unlicensed and uninsured contractors can be reported to the Contractors State Licensing Board, and contracts and invoices for services over $500 serve as undeniable evidence against them.

Prompt action is crucial to protect the safety and well-being of everyone in the community and ensure that work is being done correctly and up to code.