Home Owner's Association Rules, etc

[vladittude0583]

Hey guys, just wanted to ask your opinion regarding a Home Owner's Association.

Their letter states four things:

1) Pressure wash left-side of house for removal of mold, mildew, etc.
2) Pressure wash driveway because they consider it unclean when it is.
3) Trim any landscaping to be of equal height.
4) We have 21 days to have all of these accomplished.

Now my question is, what if we do not comply by the end of the 21st day? What other things could our HOA inflict in terms of getting us to comply with those requests? I personally believe its ludicrous what they want us to do when there are plenty of other homeowner's whose lots are in worser shape, etc. I am assuming all they can do is send letters stating our infringement of the HOA policies, but I do not think they can evict us can they?

Any input on this would be appreciated. Thanks.

[JJ]

Rough stuff, but all I've heard are others horror stories online and what I've seen on TV. No idea what they could do, I think it is more along the lines of fines, not eviction. Wouldnt be too sure.

Then again, I'm renting.

[Banjo]

Sounds like you're living in the worst type of HOA neighbourhood. I would say it depends on the local bylaws and state laws regarding HOA rules. Better contact a local legal consultant and ask some questions.

[Tulsa]

If your neighborhood association has covenants that you agreed to upon purchasing the house they have multiple options open to them. They can sue you and the courts will cause you to effect the repairs/improvements or and certainly the most likely is they will hire someone to do this work and place a lien on your home until such time as you pay for it. It's the most likely outcome as their cost is less and you will have to pay if you ever hope to sell your home.

[jsteinhauer]

I've heard as many anecdotes about associations that threaten, but the threats never hold up in court. If they don't they will have to pay legal fees.

Do you know your neighbors? Are they cheapskates? If they are, they will never take it to court, because they don't want to risk losing.

If I had an association that threatened (I live in the woods, by the way, since I did not like living in real neighborhoods, and I didn't mow my lawn all summer) I would play hardball. Yeah, trim all shrubs to equal height (the ground). I'd read the rules carefully, and do all of the most annoying things I could that were not outside the rules, until they decided to leave me alone.

Good Luck. That is exactly the reason I live where I do.

[Eddie who?]

I live in a house with an HOA. If something isn't done to specifications, they have to send you a letter first. They can't just up and take you to court. My HOA specifies that I have to cut the grass between the street and my sidewalk, and I don't even own it.

But, if you signed the contract at closing, then you have no choice. You have to do it. I have found that my HOA is very lenient when it comes to the rules. But that may not apply to yours.

The HOA is actually who you should be asking these questions.

[me_inside]

Originally Posted by Eddie who?

I live in a house with an HOA. If something isn't done to specifications, they have to send you a letter first. They can't just up and take you to court. My HOA specifies that I have to cut the grass between the street and my sidewalk, and I don't even own it.

But, if you signed the contract at closing, then you have no choice. You have to do it. I have found that my HOA is very lenient when it comes to the rules. But that may not apply to yours.

The HOA is actually who you should be asking these questions.

Our HOA sent us a letter because I didn't cut the grass to a "professional standard". My HOA, along with the rest of my neighbors, are a bunch of corporate, materialistic, PTA worshipping breeders that unless something is 110% then it is crap. Oh by the way, the lack of "professional standard" is that towards my house I didn't perfectly line my mower with the other lines of cut grass!!!! YES, YOU HEARD ME RIGHT!!!!!!!!

[Eddie who?]

Your HOA should be having community meetings with the people in your neighborhood. The best thing to do is find anyone else who feels the same as you and then beat the shit outta them. J/K.

Really, ask around and find out if anyone else is unhappy. The homeowners, if sufficient in numbers, should be able to get that kind of petty stuff changed.

[The Guardian]

Some scary stuff here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeowners%27_association

We have some dumb ones around here, apparently hanging your clothes outside to dry is illegal in vast swathes of my region. The government is stepping in and making it illegal to forbid that (save the environment and all, by not using drying machines).

The scariest part of that wiki article is the states where the HOA can forclose your house without even a hearing once they've levied enough fines against you!!

[me_inside]

Originally Posted by The Guardian

Some scary stuff here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeowners%27_association

We have some dumb ones around here, apparently hanging your clothes outside to dry is illegal in vast swathes of my region. The government is stepping in and making it illegal to forbid that (save the environment and all, by not using drying machines).

The scariest part of that wiki article is the states where the HOA can forclose your house without even a hearing once they've levied enough fines against you!!

In some counties here in Georgia, a HOA can foreclose once fines reach a $1000.00. Which in alot of cases doesn't take much. We were fined 100 bucks because my mother-in-law left her umbrella open next to the garage door to dry for a couple of hours. Usually people who head the HOA are usually the same miserable bastards who throw a fit at PTA meetings

[JohnGalt]

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

I've heard as many anecdotes about associations that threaten, but the threats never hold up in court. If they don't they will have to pay legal fees.

You really shouldn't give that sort of advice unless you're an attorney practicing in the relevant geographic area. There are instances of people dragging their HOAs into court, winning, then being forced to pay not only all of their own legal bills but those of hte HOA as well because that is how their covenants were written. One elderly woman in a city in which I used to live almost lost her home over just such a covenant after taking her HOA to court over her right to display an American flag.

[WickyWoo]

HOAs should be illegal.

They remind me of the scene in the book "a wrinkle in time" when all the children come out and bounce the ball in the same rhythmn

[JJ]

Bane of society, as it were, from what I've heard.

[Banjo]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

HOAs should be illegal.

They remind me of the scene in the book "a wrinkle in time" when all the children come out and bounce the ball in the same rhythmn

I agree. I do feel that it's somewhere of an infringement of people's rights to choose wherever they want to live. What makes them think they own the whole neighbourhood?

Just a bunch of swollen heads.

[JJ]

I want to find out who developed the concept of the HOA anyway.

[Banjo]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

I want to find out who developed the concept of the HOA anyway.

It was probably someone who was hellbent on controlling the land value so she could sell the house for a cool million.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by Banjo

It was probably someone who was hellbent on controlling the land value so she could sell the house for a cool million.

Of course. A woman.

[aristotles]

Originally Posted by me_inside

Our HOA sent us a letter because I didn't cut the grass to a "professional standard". My HOA, along with the rest of my neighbors, are a bunch of corporate, materialistic, PTA worshipping breeders that unless something is 110% then it is crap. Oh by the way, the lack of "professional standard" is that towards my house I didn't perfectly line my mower with the other lines of cut grass!!!! YES, YOU HEARD ME RIGHT!!!!!!!!

Isn't that a derogatory term used by gay people to refer to heterosexual couples? If it is, you should take that back because I would get in trouble for using certain derogatory terms for gay people.

The PC sword cuts both ways chum. I don't know if you are a man or woman, gay or straight but it really does not matter. Insulting people who choose to raise children the old fashioned way is inappropriate.

[Adam_G]

Are you renting or do you own the property? If you are renting are you reponsible for upkeep or is your landlord? If you are renting and he is responsible let him know ASAP that these have to be done. If you own the property the take it seriously. If getting it done in 21 days is going to be tough feel free to ask for an extension, but don't gripe about the rules, or complain that other houses look worse as the people who run the HOA can make your life a living hell. Kiss their asses when asking to be given an extension or asking for clarification. If you want to change things in your HOA then you have to get involved and run for the board of your HOA.

Like other posters have said I'm glad I don't have one and don't think I would ever move to a neighborhood that does, but having said that there is some peace of mind knowing that your neighbor can't paint his house bright pink and put 12 diswashers and 5 cars on blocks on his front lawn. I think the biggest problem is the only people who often get involved in the HOA are those who have an inflated sense of importance.

[DrinkMore]

I am split on this issue for several reasons.

I think it's a good thing to set ground rules and standards. I don't think they need to nit pick the hell out of it though. Simple stuff like keeping the lawn mowed and no bright colored houses or obscene lawn gnomes etc etc.. are good things. It also weeds out "bad tenants" which is another good thing. If you take offense to it, your probably a bad tenant so you would. If you think it's anything other than that - get a life. Really.

You also get people that for so me reason, don't realize that your not suppose to put junk cars and home appliances in your lawn as decorations. Nor are sheets of plywood considered curtains. For some people - they don't know any better and they have to be told (which is sad but true).



Now, I have a question - where you not aware of your HOA when you moved in/bought your house? I am pretty sure that was brought up. If it was not, that is another story. So my point is, you can be only so ticked off knowing what you stepped into.

As the old saying goes, if you don't like it - leave.