Cohousing-L Mailing List: Liability Insurance for non-HOA neighbors Using Common House

[Hank Obermayer (hobermayer]

Hi folks-

I haven't posted on this list in over ten years, but some questions  
are coming up at Mariposa Grove that I don't see addressed in past  
cohousing-l conversations.

So here's the situation:

Over half the residents and the bulk of our common facilities are  
part of an HOA (retrofit of 3 buildings, 6 units + common house).  
Some of the housing and a small portion of the common facilities  
(outdoor only) is owned completely independently of the HOA (1  
building, 3 units + outdoor & large deck). We function mostly as one  
community, although financially & legally there are at least three  
entities (HOA, unincorporated association including everyone,  
separate house).

There are issues coming up regarding liability and liability  
insurance for use of the common facilities by residents of the non- 
HOA housing, or events hosted by those non-HOA community members.  
Have any other communities thought through issues of liability for  
non-HOA members? I would imagine this is a potential issue for every  
retrofit community, and any other community that has an adjacent  
neighbor (not in the HOA) who has become an associate member, or  
something similar.

We're also thinking through issues about liability for when members  
host events that charge money, but this has been addressed somewhat  
on this list before.

Any thoughts or experience?

Thanks,

Hank Obermayer
Mariposa Grove
Oakland, CA