Williams & Strohm, LLC

05/28/2026

New HUD Guidance Allowing Increased Scrutiny of Emotional Support Animals

Emotional support animals may finally be getting their leashes shortened. In a positive sign for sanity, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) published updated enforcement guidance on May 22, 2026 (the “Guidance”) that pulls back on the ability of animal owners to seek reasonable accommodations from housing providers for emotional support animals.

Read this month's Insights Blog for more details.

Link in the comments. 🔥

04/29/2026

Changes to Lender Guidelines Related to Insurance

The lending guidelines used by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can have a tremendous impact on community associations, especially condominiums. This is because the majority of lenders will only issue mortgages for the purchase of a condominium unit if those guidelines are met.

Be sure to read this month's Insights Blog for important information pertaining to lender guidelines.

Link in the comments. 💡

04/23/2026

Williams & Strohm, LLC, announces its strategic expansion into the state of Indiana by welcoming two Indiana-based attorneys with more than 40 years of legal experience.

Link in the comments 🎯

03/19/2026

Construction Defects - What Boards Can Do to Protect Against Hidden Construction Defects and Potentially Costly Repairs

More association boards are having to tell their owners about recently discovered construction defects. Associations rarely have enough money on hand to cover those defects, so boards have made the difficult decision to levy special assessments or take out loans, sometimes for millions of dollars, to cover those unexpected repairs.

Be sure to read this month's Insights Blog for some essential information every Ohio board member should know.

Link in the comments. 🔥

02/26/2026

Check out the article, written by Nicholas Barnes, Esq., Timothy Krupnik, Esq., and Ellen Schuster, Esq. It appeared in the November/December 2025 issue of the Community Association Institute’s Community Manager Magazine.

The article is based on an education session from the 2025 Community Association Law Seminar. The session won the Best Manuscript Award.

Link in the comments! 🔥

02/23/2026

A hot-button issue for condominium and homeowners’ associations is the enforcement of architectural restrictions. Enforcement related to architectural restrictions is one of the most visible responsibilities a board will have. When handled well, it protects property values and keeps the community looking its best. When handled poorly, it can lead to conflict, accusations of selective enforcement or discrimination, and even litigation.

Be sure to read this month's Insights Blog for some essential information every Ohio board member should know.

Link in the comments. 💡

02/02/2026

Delinquent assessments are a reality for community associations, and boards often face tough questions about payment plans, settlements, and collections. This month's Insights Blog explains what Ohio law requires, the discretion boards have in resolving delinquent accounts, and why balancing flexibility with the association’s financial health is critical. Click below to read about how thoughtful, case-by-case collection strategies can help protect communities while managing risk and cost!

Dealing with delinquent owners and pursing collection actions for unpaid assessments is......

01/26/2026

We are proud to announce the addition of two new attorneys to our growing practice: Erin Haughey and Ryan Skie!

Erin Haughey joins the firm with a robust background in civil litigation, having previously served as Staff Attorney to the Honorable Judge Kim J. Brown of the Franklin County Common Pleas Court, General Division. She was named an Ohio Super Lawyer Rising Star in 2022 — a distinction reserved for only 2.5% of attorneys in the state. Erin is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Columbus Bar Association, and the Central Ohio Chapter of CAI (Community Associations Institute).

Ryan Skie joins the firm from Toledo, where he previously clerked for two area law firms and gained experience in landlord/tenant issues, real estate transactions, and civil litigation. He was admitted to the Ohio Bar in November 2025. Ryan is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, the Columbus Bar Association, and the Central Ohio Chapter of CAI (Community Associations Institute).

“Erin and Ryan bring valuable experience and skill sets that will serve our clients and the firm well as we continue to grow and navigate the complexities of one of the hottest housing markets in the country,” said Robin Strohm, Partner, Williams and Strohm.

Please join us in welcoming Erin and Ryan to our team!

01/23/2026

This week, attorney Nick Barnes spoke at Central Ohio CAI’s Almost-Free Legal Advice Luncheon and Annual Meeting. Nick and the other presenting attorneys addressed timely legal issues impacting community associations throughout Central Ohio. Here at Williams & Strohm, we’re always glad to support and educate the communities we serve!

01/15/2026

We’re proud of Attorney Robin Strohm for presenting "Words Have Power: Focusing on the Importance of Language" at the 2026 CAI Law Seminar! Well done, Robin!

01/06/2026

Next week, our attorneys will be heading to San Diego for CAI's Annual Community Association Law Seminar!

Robin Strohm, a CCAL Fellow and the current chair of CAI's Ohio Legislative Action Committee, will be a featured speaker at this year's seminar. She will be co-presenting "Words Have Power: Focusing on the Importance of Language," with two other CCAL Fellows, Lynn Krupnik and Kim O'Halloran-Perez. This presentation will discuss the impact and importance of word choice when drafting governing documents for community associations. More information on this presentation can be found at https://tinyurl.com/WordsHavePower2026.

Attorneys at Williams & Strohm attend this conference every year as part of our commitment to ongoing education in the practice of community association law. All of our attorneys are members of the Community Associations Institute (CAI) and routinely serve positions in local, regional, and national CAI chapters.

As always, stay tuned for more updates!