HOA = Pain in the Patootie

[Jeanny]

one of the parking rules here is you're supposed to park only 2 cars in front of your townhouse and any visitors have to park along the edge of the grass.... OOOOOKKK, BUT there is enough room in front of every townhouse for THREE cars, which both neighbors on either side and us have, only one other person parks her car up front, the other 4 all use their garage down back. We're on a dead end and not hurting anyone so what's the big deal??? some "rules" are just plain strange.

oh and when visitors park along the edge of the grass, we can't back out of our parking area... hmm, that makes a lot of sense.

 

[missypie]

I have to disagree...if a bill is due, you can't make the bill not be due just by refusing to open your mail. There has to be a fixed way to get legal notices to people. Most agreements (including HOA documents) have "notice provisions" that tell you exactly how notice will be given and when notice will be deemed received.

 

[Broken8ball]

I too belong to a HOA where the Nazi's run it. My problem is with them "reinterpreting" the covenants to fit their mood or selective enforcement.

A couple of things I have learned from the time I served on the Architectural Control Committee of a previous HOA.

1. If your streets are patrolled by local law enforcement, no matter what parking rules the HOA has, they cannot be enforced (unless you are breaking local laws of course). Our HOA also has the no parking overnight rule but I gently reminded them that they cannot superceede local laws with a letter from the sherrif.

2. Unless they send the same notice to everyone and enforce the rules for everyone (ie not granting waivers to their friends like they do around here) they can't really enforce it to anyone. They can huff and puff and threaten all they want but their lawyers KNOW they cannot take the case to court.

3. If the rule they are citing is vague in any way, they will never actually attempt to take it court. Again, the lawyer will let them send all the nasty notes they want but will never actually file a real suit. they know they will lose, pay your costs and have to go back to the rest of the owners for the money. This would make them look bad - something the power hungry busy-bodies will avoid at all costs. I used to get notices everytime my grass got above 2" high. They pick up old folks from retirement centers, drive them to our neighborhood, and pay them for every violation they can find. The rule says that yards must be properly maintained. Since this is vague in itself, I sent them a letter from a local horticultualist stating that grass should be grown longer in summer to save water. That stopped them.

Another trick if you want to really mess with them. Leave the car (or garbage can out) as long as you want until you get the LAST WARNING notice (usually an intent to sue if problem isn't corrected). Correct that problem (ie move the car for one night, get documentation etc) then you can start over again. Its a separate instance so they have to start the notification procedures all over again. Its a PITA for them and fun for you!

 

[faithinkarma]

Originally posted by Pin Wizard
I had a lovely visit this morning from the secretary of the HOA. Seems she's had a few complaints about the puppy piles not being picked up "immediately." Hmmm...I guess when I take them out at 2 a.m. I should immediately pick it up and walk along the golf course to dispose of it outside so I don't stink up my garbage can and sun room since I cannot have a garbage can outside...while leaving my child alone at that hour so I can do this.

Holy Cow !!!!!

This thread has me in shock. Small town girl here, I had no idea such things existed. Sooooooooo happy I found out before deciding to buy !

 

[Az Pirates]

Originally posted by Broken8ball
Another trick if you want to really mess with them. Leave the car (or garbage can out) as long as you want until you get the LAST WARNING notice (usually an intent to sue if problem isn't corrected). Correct that problem (ie move the car for one night, get documentation etc) then you can start over again. Its a separate instance so they have to start the notification procedures all over again. Its a PITA for them and fun for you!

Aye!
A very pirate - like attitude.


We have never had any run-ins with ours personally - though I have heard some things from others in the neighborhood that just make my blood boil.
Will have to remember this one for the future if needed.

 

[m&m's mom]

When we were looking to buy a new house a couple of months ago we took the HOA's in the area into consideration.
One group in Flower Mound had a new election to vote in new leaders and the old one has refused to be relieved of her duties. Lots and lots of mess. We chose not to buy in that subdivision.
We still have a HAO in our new house and the rules/covennats are quite large and quite restrictive. We had quite the chuckle when we read all that had to go through the "Architectural committee".
Guess that's the price for consistency.

 

[TeresaNJ]

You know what, I have owned three houses in three seperate communities in South Jersey, and have never had the misfortune to be involved with a HOA, thank God. After reading this thread I realize just how fortunate I am. I will never move into a community where someone is able to tell me how I can decorate, what color I'm able to paint my trim, WHEN TO BRING MY TRASH CANS IN, when to pick up the dog doo on MY lawn, etc. The communites in which I lived, and the one in which I now live are also very nice communities with some beautiful homes and some average homes. Yes, there is one house on the street owned by a very sweet, eccentric little old lady who probably would not ever live up to a HOA, and her yard isn't that well maintained, but she has beautiful wild flowers growing all over, along with her grass that is longer than 2 inches high!! This is what makes the world go round, diversity. Since DH and I are seriously considering a move to FL, thank God I read this thread. I think we will change our thoughts and concentrate on more rural areas.

 

[Jeanny]

I guess the neighbors up the street where I used to live would flunk take your trash barrells in... Trash is collected on Monday and their barrells are still out there on Wednesday, sometime Thursday!!! and they have 5 people living there.

 

[DISshopkeeper]

So I guess a clothesline is out of the question, huh?

 

[disdreams]

Part of me likes the idea of the HOA's because it's nice that they can keep the neighborhood looking decent by making sure everyone picks thier overgrown weeds, doens't put broken down appliances out front, etc.... but, I do believe that they can go way overboard at times. Some of our neighbors have recieved notices for having their garage door open too long, tire marks in the drive way (which is hard to prevent), garbage cans visible from the street, not getting certain plants pre-approved, and this was the worst; our neighbor had a very beautiful water fountain out front, but near thier front door. Well, the HOA made them move it so it was not visable from the street! I don't think it was an eyesore at all. We have a new HOA now, and they are much nicer, more lenient, but our old one gave notices for every little thing. We got fined for having our boat in the driveway one day (we were going to use it). They have "overlooked" certain people, too. Like the neighbor who kept his Christmas lights up for months,but we got a notice like a week after Christmas for it.

Our HOA will give warnings, fine people, then put a lein on the house if fines are not paid. Don't know if all of them work this way.

 

[alabamaalan]

Originally posted by Pin Wizard
I had a lovely visit this morning from the secretary of the HOA.

Everyone sing:

And it was signed by the secretary, Harper Valley HOA....

Got your miniskirt ready?

 

[Broken8ball]

No offense but can you get Mrs AA to sing instead???

Alabama Belles in Mini Skirts Mmmmm nothing like it outside of Texas Girls in Cowboy hats and tight jeans.


Oops Sorry Way off topic.

Move Along, Nothing to see here

 

[m&m's mom]

The clothesline was specifically mentioned in the HOA rules. Had to be in the back and not be seen from the front of the house or by any neighbors.
I spend a small fortune on my kids clothes and hang them up to dry. I was going to buy a line that you can roll out when you need and it goes up when you aren't using. I guess I might be getting a letter.

 

[skiwee1]

You couldn't pay me to live in a subdivision with a HOA. When we went house hunting one of the requirements we gave the agent was NO HOAs! I refuse to spend half million on a home and let some wannabe president tell me what color flowers to plant or when to close my garage doors. I know some just love the rules and regs and think that having them keep their neighborhoods lovely but guess what? Our neighborhood is gorgeous with no trashcans out and about, no high grass, no boats or cars in the road, no nothing and no HOA. I think when you buy into a neighborhood that has class then you don't have to force them to act with class.

 

[Mskanga]

How about when they change the rules and regulations after you buy the house?
They kept bugging me for my propane tanks, they wanted me to enclose them or plant shrubs around them. Now my tanks are behind the steps on my back deck surrounded by the steps and the deck. I called the township, there were no violations we were commiting, I called the fire marshall and he said propane tanks should be uncovered and free of obstacles for safety reasons, still the HOA kept sending me fines. Finally I contacted the state propane association and they faxed me a copy of the federal guidelines with the proper maintenance for propane tanks, it clearly stated tanks should be completely unobstructed and easy access. I sent a copy of that to the HOA , they never bothered me again.
I just wonder how in earth they can decide what people can do in their own properties, I keep my yard clean but god help you if you cut one of your trees without their permission. I have told them in the past, the day that they start to pay my mortgage and taxes, that's the day they can decide what can and cannot be done in my property, in the meantime they can go take care of something else.
There are houses here that have weeds up the ying yang , people with trash all over the place , and they do absolutely nothing to them.
BTW, when we bought the house we were allowed to have clotheslines in the backyard, then they came up with the rule that you could not anymore and when people complained , they said it would only apply to new residents because the old ones fell under the grandfather's law. Now get this....dog runners are allowed! Does that make sense?

 

[Mskanga]

Oh yeah and I forgot to say one more thing...we pay $135 in dues a year which I know is not bad at all. The only problem is , NOTHING is included, we have no ammenities, no home mail delivery, no garbaga pick up, no sewers, and the roads belong to the township, they clean them up. So what are we paying for? A bunch of idiots to tell us what we can and cannot do in our properties, that's what we pay for!

 

[missypie]

Mskanga, you are exactly the type of person who should never buy property in an HOA. Americans tend to be very independent, especially when it comes to their homes and their land. But deed restrictions and CC&Rs impose certain legal obligations and a lot of people end up paying the HOA's attorneys' fees after they've battled unsuccessfully for their independence.

I know that I wouldn't buy property in a particular one of my client's HOAs, because I think they are too darned picky, but they are enforcing legal rights that everyone agreed to by accepting title to their property.

It sounds like some of the HOA's that you're in have a real problem with arbitrary enforcement and favoritism. If so, you should really run for the board yourselves. Most of your neighbors probably think the board is nuts, too, so it probably wouldn't be hard to get yourself elected.

 

[ChefBilly]

Thank God there's a place called New Hampshire.
"Live Free, and Stay Outta My Yard." (Or something like that.)

In a show of solidarity to you, and my virtual flipping off of all ultra-restrictive, power happy HOAs, I am leaving my trash cans out all night tonight.

Come on, who's with me? Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?!?!?! Let's GOOOOO!!!

 

[MelCald]

My neighborhood has a HOA, but no one cares what you do on your own property. We have a lot of common property..including tennis courts, horse stables, and baseball field and 2 beaches on a lake. Our HOA big concern is what happens on the common property..teens drinking on weekends and big bonfires and whose legal liability if someone gets hurt on "our" property.

 

[SilverLily]

Whew! This thread is making me feel like I made the right decision about a land purchase.

I had two choices: a half acre lot in a gated community with lakes, walking trails, but with a HOA

or

a lot on a dead end street with about 20 homes on it, each lot approximately about an acre with their own pond on each lot, and no HOA.

We chose the acre-sized lot on the dead-end street. I have been agonizing over whether I made the correct decision, but reading these HOA horror stories has made me feel better.

I know not all HOA are bad, but there sure do seem to be a lot of people who have problems.

Maybe I dodged a bullet as far as HOA's go, so now I am free to start making all kind of mistakes with the actual building of our house. Yay for me!