HOA Final Report (by Martin [CO]) Nov 17, 2017 6:52 PM
HOA Final Report (by Deanna [TX]) Nov 17, 2017 7:06 PM
HOA Final Report (by Jim in O C [CA]) Nov 17, 2017 7:24 PM
HOA Final Report (by David [NC]) Nov 18, 2017 2:17 AM
HOA Final Report (by Ken [NY]) Nov 18, 2017 4:26 AM
HOA Final Report (by LindaJ [NY]) Nov 18, 2017 5:41 AM
HOA Final Report (by Wilma [PA]) Nov 18, 2017 7:28 AM
HOA Final Report (by Mike45 [NV]) Nov 18, 2017 2:50 PM
HOA Final Report (by AllyM [NJ]) Nov 18, 2017 4:10 PM
HOA Final Report (by Lynda [TX]) Nov 18, 2017 6:10 PM
HOA Final Report (by Livethedream [AZ]) Nov 18, 2017 10:23 PM
HOA Final Report (by myob [GA]) Nov 20, 2017 10:22 AM
HOA Final Report (by Landlord ofthe Flies [TX]) Nov 20, 2017 2:23 PM
HOA Final Report (by Martin [CO]) Posted on: Nov 17, 2017 6:52 PM Message:
I have given the background on this several times, so I'll try to be brief. I own and rent out a condo that has a governing HOA. A year ago, the HOA sent out a proposed set of new Declarations - they hadn't been updated since 1980, and much of them were no longer even legal.
But, they gave the job to an attorney, and provided almost no oversight. The attorney added new authority to the Board, and gave them power to limit the number of rentals.
After a meeting here in Denver with Brad, I went forth to slay the dragon. I mailed a letter to all 118 landlords, pointing out what these new Declarations could do. To may amazement, more than 70 replied, and we prompted the Board to withdraw their proposal, and hold more meetings to get our feedback.
At first, they were very defensive. They had been working on the docs for more than 2 years and were upset that we had waited so long in the process to oppose. But they eventually saw that we appreciated their efforts, but that the attorney had added things we just couldn't live with. They saw that we were criticizing the docs, and not the Board, and began working with us to fix the docs.
Today, they mailed out an updated set of docs that not only removes the clause that gives the Board power to limit rentals, but instead specifically says that the Board can pass no rules that limit rentals in any way, except that all leases must be at least 30 days in length. At my suggestion and request, they also added a clause that says that any rule the Board proposes can be vetoed by a majority of the homeowners. These two changes protect our right to rent out our units, and we can now sign off on the new docs. It's been a 6 month fight, but I won't have to worry every night that Board is going to pass some wacky rule that hurts my investment.
The only negative thing that happened among all this is that at our annual meeting last month, they voted me on to the Board (as punishment for my belligerence, in my opinion), and the Board voted me as president. I guess I shouldn't complain. A fellow landlord was also voted onto the Board, so we have a few of us to look out for and protect our interests. Overall, this 6 months has been a lot of work, and cost me about $1000 out of pocket for mailings and meeting with an attorney, but very much worth it.
The lesson is, if your HOA is doing something to hose you over, don't give up.
--174.16.xxx.xxx |
HOA Final Report (by Deanna [TX]) Posted on: Nov 17, 2017 7:06 PM Message:
Congratulations on your results! You worked hard for them! --96.46.xxx.xx |
HOA Final Report (by Jim in O C [CA]) Posted on: Nov 17, 2017 7:24 PM Message:
I have Been on our HOA board for eight years. This way I know what they’re doing and have a say in the decisions. Before I got there nobody inspected any work they had done, they went ahead and paid the bill and then discovered it was shoddy work. It Was Unbelievably ridiculous they would hire a new vendor to do the job the previous vendor didn’t do correctly. --75.22.xx.xxx |
HOA Final Report (by David [NC]) Posted on: Nov 18, 2017 2:17 AM Message:
Mental note to self:
Stay away from properties that have HOAs --65.188.xxx.xxx |
HOA Final Report (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: Nov 18, 2017 4:26 AM Message:
Good for you but I never understood why anyone would put themselves in a position where an HOA could tell them what to do --72.231.xxx.xxx |
HOA Final Report (by LindaJ [NY]) Posted on: Nov 18, 2017 5:41 AM Message:
I stay away from from HOAs. I could never live in one that regulates so much, it is almost like the government. BUT, I do always say, if there is a regulating body other than myself, it pays to be involved and keep up with what is going on. We ran into that with zoning regulations in our town. Those in the suburbs wanted to put in regulations that are much different than the way we live in the country. We spent a lot of time getting them to see that. It wasn't like anything we did affected the suburbs, they don't even know we exist. --96.236.xx.xx |
HOA Final Report (by Wilma [PA]) Posted on: Nov 18, 2017 7:28 AM Message:
I have one sfh in an HOA (only because we lived there once). The board has always been pretty easy-going, but back during the housing crisis, a new homeowner got all up in arms about rentals. That was because a renter in a house that wouldn't sell (owner got a transfer and had to go) was making the place look trashy.
Ms. Up in Arms somehow convinced the HOA board people that rentals weren't allowed in the HOA. I always attend the annual meeting, and was confronted by the board president about this. My response? "First, look at pages x and y - which specifically address rental properties since day one." "Second, look at my rental and tell me that it looks trashy." "Third, ask the neighbors if my tenants have caused any problems in the neighborhood." Several there affirmed that my place had never been a problem or an eyesore.
The issue melted away when first the trashy place sold and a fussbudget owner moved in and cleaned things up. Next, Ms. Up in Arms separated from her husband and moved out. Amazingly, I did get an apology from the board president ("Sorry, I let that woman cow me, and did not check the facts for myself.We are glad to have someone who takes such a good interest in their property here.")
That said, I would not buy another house in an HOA. Well done, Martin, and good luck with your new position - sounds like a MUCH bigger HOA than the one I'm part of. --71.175.xxx.xxx |
HOA Final Report (by Mike45 [NV]) Posted on: Nov 18, 2017 2:50 PM Message:
I have been on the Board of every HOA of every condo I have owned. It is the only way to protect myself. I am pretty good at stopping the nonsense of well-intentioned busybodies and buttinskis.
--71.38.xxx.xxx |
HOA Final Report (by AllyM [NJ]) Posted on: Nov 18, 2017 4:10 PM Message:
Good for you. Obviously everyone saw that you are a smart dude and should be president. Happened to someone else last year too. --73.33.xxx.xxx |
HOA Final Report (by Lynda [TX]) Posted on: Nov 18, 2017 6:10 PM Message:
If I knew what I would be in for, before I bought my condo, I wouldn't have bought it. When I made the orig purchase, I did it to house my daughter while at the university. Both my daughters used it till their graduation, whereupon it finally became a rental for me. I was hassled from the start. I was told no renting allowed. I said this was not a tenant, this was a family member. Then went thru it again, with a dif board 3 years later with the 2nd daughter. We had a run-around over several issues, all piddling-little issues just to force their control (like from where I was 'allowed' to purchase a new front door, and management policy to steal electricity from outside patio outlets w/extension cords which I exposed). By 6 years later, the nosey old biddies who complained had died, new neighbors moved in, board members changed, and I was still there. Now they leave me and my unit alone. --108.87.xx.xxx |
HOA Final Report (by Livethedream [AZ]) Posted on: Nov 18, 2017 10:23 PM Message:
I personally like HOA's. Like I'm having a problem with a neighbor who got a new dog that barks at me everytime I go in my yard.
Tried asking nicely but today she just flat said she doesn't care. So I sent an email to the board. Our CCR's specifically address this beyond the city laws. She will get fined if it continues. $50, $100, $500, then they go to court.
I like HOA's too because we have several problem landlords, not on my street thankfully. The HOA fines them for weeds, leaving the trash cans out, noise, loose dogs, etc. Without it our neighborhood and property values could be hurt.
Some people have no consideration and refuse to folow rules. --47.216.xx.xxx |
HOA Final Report (by myob [GA]) Posted on: Nov 20, 2017 10:22 AM Message:
Having 3 homes in an HOA has made me MENTAL!!!!! --99.103.xxx.xxx |
HOA Final Report (by Landlord ofthe Flies [TX]) Posted on: Nov 20, 2017 2:23 PM Message:
Wow Martin, voted you as President? They really got back at you for that one. That will teach you to open your mouth. I also like HOAs. I've served on the board, and it's a thankless, crap job. You basically become a servant for the neighborhood and you get blamed for everything. Sometimes the HOA is a good shield between neighbors, keeping the Hatfields separated from the McCoys.
HOAs are also good at protecting our borders. My current HOA is next to commercial properties. They keep abreast of things around us that could affect our neighborhood. --108.69.xxx.xxx |
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