A significant portion (41%) of community association pools have not opened this season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, while 30% of communities have opened pools following a delay, according to a new report released by Community Associations Institute (CAI).

According to the results, only 7% of respondents reported opening their pool on time. Several factors were behind the decision of communities that did not open their pool as regularly scheduled, including: fear of exposure to legal liability (58%); fear of spreading COVID-19 (50%); and attorney recommendation (48%). The communities that opened their pool reported instituting several new procedures, including: prohibiting guests (60%); requiring residents to sign a liability waiver (40%); and requiring residents to bring their own chairs (37%). Expenses related to the pool are higher than budgeted due to COVID-19 in roughly 35% of communities.

“The question to open a community association pool has been one of the most controversial and complicated topics facing condominiums and homeowners associations (HOAs) this season,” says Thomas M. Skiba, CAE, CAI’s chief executive officer. “Unfortunately, it’s not a one-size-fits-all model, and the decisions to open or not open are tailored to each community and specific to their unique circumstances. Communities have to consider guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state and local requirements, the association’s ability to set and enforce rules, liability, resident sentiment, safety, and expenses.

CAI, the leading authority in community association education, governance, and management, conducted a survey of volunteer board members, community managers, and other industry stakeholders from late June to early July to understand how and why community associations made decisions regarding their pool(s).

For more information about the impact of COVID-19 and community associations, visit CAIOnline.org.

Source: CAIOnline.org/PressReleases