Q: Trees planted in our neighbor's parking strip are raising our sidewalk and starting to do the same to our driveway. We're concerned this could affect our sewer line. However the neighbor won't do anything about these trees because he says they're not on his property. So do we have any recourse?

Q: Our condominium association is struggling to understand the new law requiring us to have a professional reserve study. With the exception of financial hardship, is it mandatory we have this study? Are there other exceptions, perhaps related to the number of units or age of the building?

Can we forgo a study if we have our accountant certify our reserves are sufficient to meet expenses? And if we don't have a reserve study done, does this open our association to liability if an owner decides to claim it impairs the marketability of his unit?

Q: When homeowners in our large condominium association fall behind on their dues, our recourse has been to lien the property. Realistically, are there other avenues of recovery we could pursue? Perhaps take them to small-claims court? Or turn them over to a collection agency?

Q: My neighbor has claimed about a two-foot strip of my property and erected "no trespassing" signs along it. He says I'll be sued if I don't respect this boundary. I've had a survey done, which shows that my original boundary line is correct.

However, this neighbor has removed the new survey markers and says he'll cut down the trees in the disputed area. I showed him our state law requiring him to get a surveyor to replace the markers. He says he won't do it. What agency can I contact to enforce these laws?

Q: What questions can a condo unit owner vote on other than electing officials? Can we require the right to have a vote or say on issues?

Q: Seattle's Fair Housing Ordinance prohibits discrimination based on political ideology and activity. Does that protect tenants who put political campaign signs in their windows?

Q: For almost two years several owners in my condo complex complained about a rat problem in one area of our common space. The association tried to solve it, but I feel there was some stalling on their part. So the problem ballooned into a $7,000 repair bill.

Our bylaws say "the units that benefit from repair or replacement must bear the expense." Shouldn't the entire association -- rather than just those owners most directly affected -- be responsible because the problem wasn't solved in a timely fashion?

Q: In searching for a rental, we noticed many houses advertised online are pitching themselves with low rent if you take over the mortgage payments. Is this safe?