HOA HELL

In this episode of HOA HELL, attorney Michael Kushner takes on a topic that cuts to the core of every California homeowner’s battle with their HOA: transparency. This episode focuses on the very brief rise—and immediate fall—of Assembly Bill 21, a 2025 legislative proposal that would have forced HOAs to operate with the same level of transparency as public agencies.

Kushner breaks down what AB 21 would have required, why it terrified HOA boards and management companies, and how its demise exposes some of the most critical enforcement loopholes in California’s Davis-Stirling Act. You’ll hear stories of opaque finances, rigged elections, and boards run like private fiefdoms—and you’ll get real-world legal tools to push back.

Whether you’re a homeowner demanding access to records or a board member unsure of your obligations, this episode is your roadmap to reclaiming transparency and oversight. 

🎧 IN THIS EPISODE

— What AB 21 tried to fix—and why it failed

— How HOAs routinely avoid their statutory transparency obligations

— Loopholes in California’s Davis-Stirling Act

— A real case involving secret debt, dues abuse, and board corruption

— Three reforms that every HOA should be legally required to follow

— Practical steps to force accountability using inspection and IDR statutes

📩 Got a question or horror story? Email: [email protected] 

Disclaimer: 

This content constitutes attorney advertising. 

The content of this podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by listening to this podcast, submitting a question, or receiving a response. Always consult with a licensed attorney regarding your specific legal situation. MBK Chapman and Michael Kushner disclaim any liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this podcast. 

This communication does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. 

About: 

Michael Kushner is the attorney who pioneered this niche area of the law—representing homeowners in disputes with their HOAs—in California. He created and taught the systems now used by the biggest law firms in the state focused on HOA litigation. Through his firm, MBK Chapman, and now through HOA HELL, Kushner continues to give homeowners practical legal tools to fight back. 

🔥 HOA Hell
Attorney Michael Kushner, California’s #1 homeowner-side HOA lawyer, shares real legal tools to help homeowners fight back and win against Bad HOAs.

👉 Got an HOA nightmare? Submit your question at [email protected]. Or learn more about your rights as a homeowner by visiting: https://www.mbkchapman.com/fact-sheets. 

📲 Follow us on:
Instagram: @mbkchapmanpc
YouTube: HOA Hell
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbk-chapman
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MBKChapman
X:  https://x.com/MBKchapman
Reddit:  https://www.reddit.com/r/hoa_hell/ 

What started as a well-meaning safety law has turned into a financial wrecking ball for thousands of California homeowners. In this episode of HOA HELL, attorney Michael Kushner—one of the pioneers of HOA litigation in California—is joined by senior associate at MBK Chapman, Sam Khil, to break down California’s Balcony Law and its devastating unintended consequences for everyday homeowners.

In this podcast, you’ll learn: 

• Why the 2015 Berkeley balcony collapse led to California’s new inspection mandates.

• How this important law is now triggering massive special assessments in HOAs all over California.

• Why many HOAs now find themselves uninsurable, or with exterior elevated elements specifically excluded from coverage.

• What Michael Kushner calls the “Negligent HOA Tax”—and how it’s tanking property values in affected HOA communities.

• How many California renters are being squeezed by surging HOA costs, and why that trend is accelerating. 

• Why some homes now carry a “balcony premium”—and how savvy property owners are using it to their advantage.

• Why this crisis isn’t about the law—it’s about years of deferred maintenance and unchecked board mismanagement.

Michael also offers serious solutions that could prevent crushing special assessments in the future.

Whether you’re a homeowner, a board member, or just curious about how an important law created so much chaos, you'll want to hear this episode.

Disclaimer: 

This content constitutes attorney advertising. 

The content of this podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by listening to this podcast, submitting a question, or receiving a response. Always consult with a licensed attorney regarding your specific legal situation. MBK Chapman and Michael Kushner disclaim any liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this podcast. 

This communication does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. 

About: 

MBK Chapman PC is a California law firm known for its relentless advocacy and unmatched expertise in HOA disputes, real estate litigation, and business law. 

Led by Michael Kushner, a recognized authority in California HOA law and the architect of the systems and strategies now used by other law firms who represent homeowners in HOA disputes, Michael Kushner has earned a reputation for cutting through red tape, exposing abuse, and holding powerful players accountable.

At MBK Chapman, we don’t rely on boilerplate solutions. We analyze, we innovate, and we execute—with one goal in mind: results. Our clients don’t come to us for hand-holding. They come to us to win.

#hoalaw #balconylaw #hoas #davisstirlingact 

🔥 HOA Hell
Attorney Michael Kushner, California’s #1 homeowner-side HOA lawyer, shares real legal tools to help homeowners fight back and win against Bad HOAs.

👉 Got an HOA nightmare? Submit your question at [email protected]. Or learn more about your rights as a homeowner by visiting: https://www.mbkchapman.com/fact-sheets. 

📲 Follow us on:
Instagram: @mbkchapmanpc
YouTube: HOA Hell
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbk-chapman
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MBKChapman
X:  https://x.com/MBKchapman
Reddit:  https://www.reddit.com/r/hoa_hell/ 

Did you know that on January 1, 2025, a new law went into effect that, for the first time ever, allows HOAs to adopt electronic voting procedures—without the red tape that used to make it nearly impossible? 

In this episode of HOA Hell, attorney and a leading authority on HOA law, Michael Kushner, along with his producer, Justin Rodriguez, take a deep dive into California’s new HOA Electronic Voting Law (otherwise known as AB 2159). 

This podcast will cover several key topics, including:

• The problems associated with paper ballots and the old way of doing things

• How the new law has changed things for the better

• The requirements put into place to ensure transparency, maintain secrecy, allow verification

• What is being given up in favor of implementing electronic voting

• What concerned homeowners should look out for to ensure that elections are being done correctly

• How homeowners can get their HOAs to implement electronic voting in their associations

In addition, HOA Hell also introduces what will be a frequent segment on his podcast—HOA Hell Queries, where Michael Kushner provides simple answers to complex questions from the firm’s clients and podcast listeners.

In today’s HOA Hell Queries segment, Michael Kushner answers questions relating to:

• A homeowner’s right to install video cameras

• Excessive fines imposed by an HOA

• Homeowner voting rights

• HOA’s corporate authority to act

MBK Chapman is a leading authority in California for its expertise in HOA law and its representation of homeowners in disputes with their HOAs. Michael Kushner is the managing partner of MBK Chapman, and the individual who trained some of the most successful attorneys currently active in this area of the law.

Disclaimer: 

This content constitutes attorney advertising. 

The content of this podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by listening to this podcast, submitting a question, or receiving a response. Always consult with a licensed attorney regarding your specific legal situation. MBK Chapman and Michael Kushner disclaim any liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this podcast. 

This communication does not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. 

About:

MBK Chapman PC is a California-based litigation firm known for its relentless advocacy and unmatched expertise in HOA disputes, real estate litigation, and business law. From our attorneys to our support staff, every member of the firm is committed to providing clients with strategic, results-driven representation grounded in integrity, precision, and real-world experience.

Our firm is led by Michael Kushner, a recognized authority in California HOA law and the architect of litigation strategies now used by law firms across the state. With decades of success handling complex disputes — from multimillion-dollar real estate battles to high-conflict ownership and governance matters — we’ve earned a reputation for cutting through red tape, exposing abuse, and holding powerful players accountable.

#hoalaw #realestate #hoas

🔥 HOA Hell
Attorney Michael Kushner, California’s #1 homeowner-side HOA lawyer, shares real legal tools to help homeowners fight back and win against Bad HOAs.

👉 Got an HOA nightmare? Submit your question at [email protected]. Or learn more about your rights as a homeowner by visiting: https://www.mbkchapman.com/fact-sheets. 

📲 Follow us on:
Instagram: @mbkchapmanpc
YouTube: HOA Hell
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbk-chapman
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MBKChapman
X:  https://x.com/MBKchapman
Reddit:  https://www.reddit.com/r/hoa_hell/