CAI updates policies on housing, ombudsperson programs and sustainability

Community Associations Institute has issued new and updated public policies on housing affordability, community association oversight and sustainability. The guidance is aimed at lawmakers weighing changes that could affect nearly 1 in 4 Americans living in community associations nationwide.

Why it matters: - The new policies could shape how states and local governments approach housing affordability, dispute resolution and energy-efficiency rules for community associations. - Nearly 1 in 4 Americans live in 373,000 community associations nationwide, according to the Foundation for Community Association Research. - CAI says the policies are meant to balance homeowner protections and broader policy goals with the financial and operational realities of community associations.

What happened: - Community Associations Institute announced new and updated public policies on housing affordability, community association ombudsperson programs, sustainability and energy efficiency. - The announcement was made Aug. 24, 2026, in Los Angeles. - CAI said the policies are intended to guide policymakers considering changes that could affect condominiums, homeowners associations and housing cooperatives.

The details: - CAI’s housing affordability policy supports expanding access to homeownership while noting that affordability includes more than the purchase price. - The policy encourages policymakers to consider infrastructure resiliency, sustainability initiatives and community resources when planning new development and increased density. - CAI says long-term affordability depends on community associations having enough financial resources to maintain shared infrastructure, amenities and common assets without unexpected costs for homeowners. - The ombudsperson policy backs homeowner education, fair internal procedures and alternative dispute resolution before states create new oversight bureaucracy. - If states create ombudsperson programs, CAI wants them to remain neutral, focus on education, require homeowners to use internal remedies first, keep authority clearly defined and avoid unnecessary fees or administrative burdens. - The updated sustainability and energy-efficiency policy gives community associations flexibility to pursue environmental and energy-saving initiatives based on infrastructure, finances, governing documents and resident priorities. - CAI encourages communities to fold sustainability and energy efficiency into reserve planning, preventive maintenance and capital improvement projects. - CAI says that approach can help communities evaluate durable, cost-effective improvements while preserving local decision-making and financial flexibility. - The new and updated positions bring CAI’s total public policies to nearly 50. - CAI says those policies educate legislators, promote best practices and provide a framework for policymaking on homeowner issues nationwide. - More information is available in CAI’s public policies.

Between the lines: - CAI is trying to steer policymakers toward local problem-solving instead of mandates that could add costs or reduce flexibility for associations. - The emphasis on internal remedies and alternative dispute resolution suggests resistance to broader state oversight models. - Linking sustainability to reserve planning and capital projects frames energy policy as a financial management issue, not just an environmental one.

What's next: - Policymakers in multiple states are expected to keep weighing housing, oversight and sustainability proposals. - CAI’s policies are positioned as a reference point in those debates as lawmakers consider how to protect homeowners without shifting too much cost or control onto associations. - The association said its public-policy portfolio will continue to guide legislative discussions affecting community associations nationwide.