Management Trust explains how new Washington HOA rules change collections, meeting rules in Lacey

Management Trust presenters told a City of Lacey neighborhood meeting that recent Washington law changes reshape how homeowners associations collect assessments and make board decisions.

"Assessments are always due on the first of the month," said Navi Holmes, executive community association manager with Management Trust, explaining that a homeowner is technically delinquent once the due date passes unless the association's governing documents grant a grace period. Holmes said the law requires associations to send a notice that lists the amount owed, account details, next steps and contact information, and that the notice must be mailed; if the owner has given an email address, the notice must also be emailed.

Teresa Hammer, a project manager with Management Trust, and Holmes walked attendees through a statutory sequence they said associations now must follow…