FAQs

Note: These questions and answers are being provided as guidelines only. Please refer to the Rules and Regulations for definitive guidance on the issues discussed here.

Q – How do I contact a member of the Tahoe Board?

A – You may email tahoecondoassoc@gmail.com.

Q – I’m a new owner of a condo at Tahoe. What do I need to know?

A – Although people often buy a condo because of the convenience of having the Association take care of many of the responsibilities of home ownership such as lawn care, snow removal, etc., there are still a number of things unit owners are responsible for. Chief among those are becoming familiar with the Rules and Regulations. Copies are available from the Tahoe Board, but are also posted on the Tahoe website under Documents/Forms.

Q - What are my specific responsibilities as a unit owner?

A - First and foremost is to familiarize yourself with the Rules & Regulations as well as the Declaration of Condominium Ownership. Both of these can be found on the Tahoe website under Documents/Forms. Although unit owners are responsible for maintaining the interior of their units and generally do not need to obtain approval for doing so (an exception would be anything that might impact the structural integrity of their unit), they should always seek Tahoe Board approval before making any changes outside of their units.

Unit owners are also responsible for maintaining their “limited common elements”, a portion of the property as delineated on the plat which are contiguous to and serve exclusively a single unit or adjoining unit, including patios, decks, a/c compressors, furnaces and furnace rooms, water heaters and water heater rooms, walkways and driveways, and the doors and windows of the individual units.

Q - How much is my condo fee, who do I send it to, and who do I make the check out to?

A - The Declaration requires the fees for each unit be based on percentage ownership (derived from the square footage) of that unit. There are four floor plans in the Association with the resulting percentage ownership of the common elements. Check with the Tahoe Board Treasurer if you are unsure of the fee for your condo.

The checks should be made out to the “Tahoe Condominium Association” or simply “Tahoe Condo Assoc” and either placed in the locked white condo mailbox on the side of the mail box stanchion in front of 2904 Sierra Drive or mailed to the Tahoe Condo Assoc at 2904 Sierra Dr, Champaign, IL 61822. Please see Section XII of Rules & Regulations.

Q - When are the condo fees due?

A - The monthly condo fees are due on or before the first (1st) day of each month and are considered late if not paid by the fifth (5th) day of the month. Please see Section XII of Rules & Regulations.

Q - When is the trash picked up by the waste hauler?

A - Normal pick-up day is Wednesday, usually by mid-morning. However, if a holiday falls on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, the pick-up is usually pushed back a day to Thursday. It is also possible that a holiday falling on a Thursday or Friday of the previous week might cause a one day delay in pick-up the following week. Please see Section X of Rules & Regulations.

Garbage/recycle bins may be placed at the end of the driveway after 6:30 pm on Tuesday and should be returned to garages by 6:30 pm on Wednesday.

Q - What should I do if all my trash or recyclables won’t fit in the containers provided?

A - All trash and recyclables need to be placed in the containers provided in order to be picked up. If you have an “overflow” situation, then you either need to hold onto some of the more innocuous waste until the following week or make other arrangements to have it picked up. For example, it might be possible a neighbor could have extra room in their trash bin for your overflow items, but you need to ask. However, if you call a separate service to pick up any waste you can’t fit into the containers; any additional cost incurred is solely the unit owner’s responsibility. Please see Section X of Rules & Regulations.

Q - What items can I place in my recycling bin?

A - Although it isn’t possible to include a complete list, most things you typically think of recycling are ok. This would include most paper products such as newspapers, magazines, advertisements you receive in the mail, and envelopes. It also includes most plastic products such as bottles and grocery bags, glass bottles and cans. All food containers should be cleaned of any food residue before recycling. Likewise, cardboard can be recycled, but cardboard from pizza boxes embedded with grease, cheese or other food residue should not be recycled. Styrofoam is not recyclable. For a more complete list of both permitted and prohibited items, please visit the Republic Services web-site at http://www.republicservices.com/residents/all-in-one-recycling.

Q – The previous unit owner had cablevision, but I prefer a satellite TV service. What should I do?

A - As with any change you wish to make outside your unit, you should submit an Architectural/Landscape Request Form (available from a Tahoe Board Member or on our website). This form should be completed in duplicate and submitted to the Tahoe Board for approval. Please note that there are only a few locations on the exterior of a unit where a satellite dish can be installed that won’t impact the “water-tightness” of the building, and under no circumstances can the installation result in any holes being made in the roof of a unit. Please see Section V.C. of Rules & Regulations for further details.

Q - I’m moving but want to continue to own my unit and would like to rent it. Am I permitted to rent my unit?

A - Under the Association’s Second Amendment of the Declaration of Condominium Ownership, the Association does not allow rental units. Units that were approved as rentals at the time of the amendment vote will be allowed to continue to rent until the owner moves back into the unit or sells it.

Q - We have lived in the Association for a few years and we miss having a small vegetable garden where we can grow tomatoes. Can we plant a small garden around our unit?

A - Small flower beds and/or planting areas for vegetables can be created / installed by unit owners, as long as the following rules are followed.

- 1st, a Landscape Request form will need to be submitted and approved

- 2nd, the planting area must be immediately adjacent to the unit (i.e., it needs to run along the perimeter of the unit whether that is next to the deck or somewhere along the foundation).

- 3rd, it cannot be installed anywhere out in the common elements.

- 4th, all such planting areas need to be kept free of weeds, grasses, etc. and that is the unit owner’s responsibility

However, if an owner just wants to grow one or two tomato plants, herbs, etc, they have the option of doing so in flower pots on their decks and no Tahoe Board approval is required. Please see Section VII of Rules & Regulations.

Q - Several of my neighbors have dogs and I occasionally find pet waste on the commons adjacent to my unit. What should I do?

A - You should notify property manager. In so doing, it is always helpful to provide as much info as you can such as whether you know which dog or pet owner is involved, how often it has occurred, where you’ve found the pet waste, etc. Please see Section VIII of Rules & Regulations.

Q - I’ve noticed my deck is in need of some repair and would like to stain it a different color. What should I do?

A - An Architectural/Landscape Request Form needs to be submitted to the Board of Managers for approval. Routine deck maintenance includes periodically waterproofing or staining the deck to keep the wood in good condition. It also involves replacing any boards or lattice work that become warped, significantly cracked or splintered, or, in the case of lattice work, simply falls off. As to choosing a stain color this should be specifically noted on the Request Form submitted for approval. Please see Section V.B of Rules & Regulations.

Q - The light above my house number on the front of the garage is out. Do I need to replace it?

A - Yes, the owner should replace the bulb. If there is a problem other than a burned out bulb, please contact the property manager.

Q - I just moved in and need to downsize. Can I have a garage sale?

A - Yes, individual garage sales are permitted, though you are responsible for placing your own advertisement. Also, please note you cannot store items on the common elements during the sale or in preparing for the sale. All items need to be kept either in the garage or on the driveway and should be promptly removed from outside the unit immediately after the conclusion of the sale. Please see Section IX of Rules & Regulations.

Q - I noticed a dark spot on my ceiling which appears to be a water stain. What should I do?

A - If you find evidence of a leak you should let the property manager know. The proper repairmen will then be called to assess the situation, identify the cause of the leak and make the necessary repairs to the exterior of the unit. Please note that in assessing a situation it may be necessary for the person making the assessment to look inside a unit to help point them to the source of the leak. Your cooperation in granting such access is greatly appreciated.

Once the exterior leak problem has been resolved (i.e., the spot is no longer wet after a heavy rain, the stain spot hasn’t grown, etc.), the necessary repairs can be made inside the unit. The Association will pay for all structural repairs to the exterior of the unit and also covers the cost of any needed interior repairs or repainting up to a maximum of $400. Please see Section V.B.1.c. of Rules & Regulations.

Q - I’m a big fan of the holidays and like to put up some decorations to celebrate some of them. What am I permitted to do?

A - Unit owners are permitted to hang holiday decorations on the doors of their unit, but not the garage door, as long as they are not permanently attached nor in any way affect the door itself. No decorations may be placed in any of the trees in the association, but decorations such as holiday lights may be placed on the shrubs immediately adjacent to the unit provided the electrical wires do not create a hazard for others. Please review Section V of Rules & Regulations.