What’s Next?
FOUR YEARS INTO “THE BALCONY BILL”
By Kelly Zibell and Annie Wyland
SB326 (now Civil Code §5551) was passed into law four years ago, requiring condominium associations with three or more units to conduct structural inspections of elevated structures every nine years. The first inspections must be completed by January 1, 2025. Given the building collapse in Florida a few years ago, completion of these inspections and needed repairs has become a cost that is easy to justify against the potential injury or loss of life in the event of a collapse. At this point, many associations have finally completed those required Civil Code 5551 inspections and have received the report of needed repairs. The next step is to send out the list of repairs and get bids, right? WAIT! There are several steps that an association should take in order to ensure a fair and accurate bidding process and obtain the necessary funding to complete repairs correctly. As Lisa Triplett, CCAM, Executive Vice President at Bay Area Property Services, noted, “There are so many more key people that need to get involved in the process once you get your report back.” This article explores where you will need expert advice to follow once you have received your report. Continues on page 32
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