After reading this I would never live anywhere I was subject to HOA rules. The elderly man was ordered to remove personal items from his home and how to use his rooms in his house!
Your turn
Do you live in HOA regulated housing? Do you have a story to share that is yours or just a situation you know or read?
Fortunately he won. They had clearly overstepped the mark, and the courts told them so.
ReplyDeleteI was horrified anyone did that to an elderly, sick man.
DeleteI live in a condo and we have to follow the association's rules. We've never had a problem. They don't overstep. I really like living in the condos and think it's worth the trade off. We don't have total control of our outdoor common areas but we also don't have to take care of the lawn, outside maintenance, or shovel snow.
ReplyDeleteM. Ripples,
DeleteI am glad it works for you. Thanks for the information.
Please note that the decision, in his favor, was in 1998. Anyone who chooses to live in an HOA community must be provided with the HOA rules before moving in. We chose to live in an HOA community and have no problem with the rules or the board who enforces them. Our rules are quite simple and apply only to the outside of our home and actually impact only the street side of our home. Some rules are simply to make our community safer - no outside buildings like sheds that could blow away in a hurricane but you can build on an outdoor storage area as long as you abide by county zoning and building codes. The rules also mean that those homes that are in foreclosure and abandoned still have the lawns mowed and are presentable in the simplest way possible. No rules apply to the inside of the home. HOA's are usually individual homes in a community not condos as they have their own condo boards that may be much more restrictive due to the close living quarters. For instance barking dogs considered a nuisance at a condo would be discussed by the condo board, in an HOA community animal control would be called.
ReplyDeleteBellen,
DeleteI suppose after that ruling HOAs no longer try to control the inside of the dwelling. Thanks for explaining how yours works.
I too live in a HOA ruled gated community. As far as I'm concerned, the rules are there to keep our properties up and are really not a burden. For instance, this last week the architectural committee did a walk around and notified all the residents with paint starting to peel on their shutters to initiate repairs. Thank goodness my shutters face north and are in good condition.
ReplyDeleteKristine,
DeleteI had no idea they would inspect the buildings regularly. I m glad your shutters don't need repairs!
I live in one of eleven town homes .. all in a pretty row. Our HOA rules are easy to follow ~ however I can promise, one rotten apple has the capacity to spoil a perfect pie!
ReplyDeleteHelen,
DeleteOne person who does not follow the rules? I am glad your HOA rules are easy.
never had the pleasure.
ReplyDeleteOne time we lived under a HOA jurisdiction and after that I said never again. They weren't as bad as those in the article, but I still didn't like being told what I could or couldn't do with my own property. As I understand those on any HOA board are elected. It would take an overhaul of the board to change it for the better.
ReplyDelete