AKB. HOA conflict in the 302. How does it get resolved?

[laKavosiey-st lion]

This is my first HOA so I’m not sure what’s going on but a meeting has been called for next week. My question is how do we make people comply? I’m ZERO interested in paying a lawyer to sue anyone.
violations:
illegal fence
boat in driveway over winter
boat trailer back of property year round (me)
The fee is $250 a year and covers common area cutting and random snow removal. 29 homes valued at 5-700k.
‘Please post your making people comply stories.
YFR

 

[LionJim]

This is my first HOA so I’m not sure what’s going on but a meeting has been called for next week. My question is how do we make people comply? I’m ZERO interested in paying a lawyer to sue anyone.
violations:
illegal fence
boat in driveway over winter
boat trailer back of property year round (me)
The fee is $250 a year and covers common area cutting and random snow removal. 29 homes, 5-700k.
‘Please post your making people comply stories.
YFR

You mean $2500 per annum, right? Around $200 per month? Easy typo to make, no shade.

This will be an interesting thread.

 

[ClarkstonMark]

I had a boat on trailer and the HOA sent me a letter and said I'd be fined if not removed.
I argued but ended up moving it.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

You mean $2500 per annum, right? Around $200 per month? Easy typo to make, no shade.

This will be an interesting thread.

Nope $250 a year. There’s about $3k in the coffers

 

[LionJim]

Nope $250 a year. There’s about $3k in the coffers

Okay, I get it. The $500k-$700k you mentioned is the value of the houses in your area, not how much the HOA takes in annually.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

I had a boat on trailer and the HOA sent me a letter and said I'd be fined if not removed.
I argued but ended up moving it.

My question is what happens if you refuse to pay the fine. I too will move the trailer if anyone bitches. I put up some sweet pompusses to hide it naturally

 

[PSU73]

Are your HOA 'rules' defined and recorded by Deed Restrictions? That's the only real bite an HOA has.
You're collecting $7,250 a year in HOA dues.
Our HOA is 84 homes, and we pay $135/yr ($11,340 total) with common area grass, an HOA retention pond maintenance, but have City snow removal. We have a reserve which is now about 1.5x our annual budget. It is primarily for unexpected capital requirements if City/County code may require, mostly related to the retention pond.
We also engage an HOA management company. They handle all issues (violations and planned changes/improvements), so we don't have to engage neighbor-to-neighbor. They will fine as needed.
They have an onboard lawyer, so they can do some threatening as part of the annual fee, if letter notices from the Admin don't get results. If something needs to be be recorded as a lien, then we have OOP costs, with backend recovery when the property is sold. To my knowledge, there was only 1 time a lien was filed.

 

[Nitt1300]

 

[Lion84]

My question is what happens if you refuse to pay the fine. I too will move the trailer if anyone bitches. I put up some sweet pompusses to hide it naturally

In many cases the HOA has the right to put a lien on your house in which case it would be hard to ever sell until removed.

 

[PSU87]

This is my first HOA so I’m not sure what’s going on but a meeting has been called for next week. My question is how do we make people comply? I’m ZERO interested in paying a lawyer to sue anyone.
violations:
illegal fence
boat in driveway over winter
boat trailer back of property year round (me)
The fee is $250 a year and covers common area cutting and random snow removal. 29 homes valued at 5-700k.
‘Please post your making people comply stories.
YFR

So, just so we are clear here....
One of the perpetrators is you.
So you are asking us how you can force yourself to comply?

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

In many cases the HOA has the right to put a lien on your house in which case it would be hard to ever sell until removed.

That makes sense, great info. ill ask this at the meeting. TY

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

So, just so we are clear here....
One of the perpetrators is you.
So you are asking us how you can force yourself to comply?

Not at all. I’ve been here 16 months and it’s been wild Wild West, no enforcement. The 6’ tall solid fence (2 doors down) forced the boards hand and I’m expecting my trailer to be brought up. My worry is paying for litigation over a fence I actually like.
Im happy to move the trailer if they ask nicely

 

[BW Lion]

My question is what happens if you refuse to pay the fine. I too will move the trailer if anyone bitches. I put up some sweet pompusses to hide it naturally

Don't you have a copy of the HOA bylaws? The potential consequences of non-compliance with an HOA infraction should be spelled-out in that document.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Don't you have a copy of the HOA bylaws? The potential consequences of non-compliance with an HOA infraction should be spelled-out in that document.

I’m not really a paperwork guy.

 

[BW Lion]

Nope $250 a year. There’s about $3k in the coffers

Therein lies your problem. Any HOA that charges only $21/mo isn't sufficiently funded to enforce their own deed restrictions because the expense of hiring outside attorneys would quickly wipe out their accumulated funds.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Therein lies your problem. Any HOA that charges only $21/mo isn't sufficiently funded to enforce their own deed restrictions because the expense of hiring outside attorneys would quickly wipe out their accumulated funds.

Thus my worry if we litigate. The homeowner in question is loaded $$$. My guess is he’d not sweat going to court. I’m 100% voting to allow the fence. If I pay 6 bucks to sue this clown im gonna go apeschitt

 

[baltimorened]

Thus my worry if we litigate. The homeowner in question is loaded $$$. My guess is he’d not sweat going to court. I’m 100% voting to allow the fence. If I pay 6 bucks to sue this clown im gonna go apeschitt

I know this might be too easy, but why not just comply with the HOA rules?
The fact that others are violating at least puts you in a stronger position in discussions of other violators. Hell, you could stand up at the meeting and demand the death sentence for violators

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

They didn’t enforce, now I’m guessing they will, so I’ll comply

 

[LionJim]

I’m not really a paperwork guy.

My guess is that in your family your wife is the one who sweats the details? (Mine is.)

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

My guess is that in your family your wife is the one who sweats the details? (Mine is.)

Not really, she’s a bit of a hippie

 

[LionJim]

Not really, she’s a bit of a hippie

Then maybe you should up your game? With my own wife’s obsessive expertise, I can afford to be a slacker.

 

[BW Lion]

Doesn't your 'hood have any highly-disgruntled females (aka "Karens") that would enjoy being HOA President and making everyone's life equally miserable via strict interpretation and enforcement of HOA bylaws?

HOA's are usually magnets for these types of people.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Then maybe you should up your game? With my own wife’s obsessive expertise, I can afford to be a slacker.

I don’t know we made it this far.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Doesn't your 'hood have any highly-disgruntled females (aka "Karens") that would enjoy being HOA President and making everyone's life equally miserable via strict interpretation and enforcement of HOA bylaws?

HOA's are usually magnets for these types of people.

Of the 55? adults, we’ve met 6 so I don’t know.

 

[LionJim]

I don’t know we made it this far.

If by “we,” you mean you and me, yeah, I try to avoid thinking about it. Without my particular wife I’d be just another *******.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

No I meant me n moms, married right out of State 100 years ago

 

[Still in State Colllege]

I hate HOA's. Stay out of others business. If my neighbor wants to paint their house purple why do I care. Comply with local governmental ordinances and be done with it.

I love that I do not have to deal with my neighbor measuring my grass or telling me my fencing is not the approved material. Who wants to live in a Stepford neighborhood.

Vive la difference.

 

[Tri-Power65]

 

[pamdlion]

They knew they were part of a HOA when they moved there and signed the documents to comply. Spend the money to get a lawyer to get them in compliance. Sure it's "only" an illegal fence or boat trailer now, next time it is 10 cars without tires or a strip club.

 

[Bison13]

They knew they were part of a HOA when they moved there and signed the documents to comply. Spend the money to get a lawyer to get them in compliance. Sure it's "only" an illegal fence or boat trailer now, next time it is 10 cars without tires or a strip club.

Strip club , I’m in.

 

[pamdlion]

Strip club , I’m in.

That was a soft ball.

 

[LionJim]

Strip club , I’m in.

I miss the Starlight Lounge on Rte 1. @s1uggo72

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Omg lolol

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

I hate HOA's. Stay out of others business. If my neighbor wants to paint their house purple why do I care. Comply with local governmental ordinances and be done with it.

I love that I do not have to deal with my neighbor measuring my grass or telling me my fencing is not the approved material. Who wants to live in a Stepford neighborhood.

Vive la difference.

We had no interest in any HOA but in full Covid we weren’t in the drivers seat. It was lean out there

 

[troutrus]

I hate HOA's. Stay out of others business. If my neighbor wants to paint their house purple why do I care. Comply with local governmental ordinances and be done with it.

I love that I do not have to deal with my neighbor measuring my grass or telling me my fencing is not the approved material. Who wants to live in a Stepford neighborhood.

Vive la difference.

BINGO!!!

 

[Mdking0001]

Appears the fines are cheaper than storing the boat trailer elsewhere so just keep paying those

 

[Nitwit]

The HOA rules were part of the deal that you knew existed when you bought in, so comply and be a good neighbor. Don’t be a prick. They are there to protect the whole neighborhood from ******** who would do things that would hurt your property values.

 

[RGlen]

If you are in Pennsylvania, not only do the Rules, the By-Laws and the Declaration govern the contract you signed upon entering the HOA, but state law in the form of the Condo Act (title 68) gives powers to the Association. The Condo Act gives the power to fine, but also stipulates “due process”.
if going to court, you may also face the prospect of paying legal fees for both sides if you do not prevail. The law is really stacked in the HOAs favor and as a home owner, you probably want the Association to not be involved in lawsuits. there is always mediation and arbitration to settle disputes.

 

[psuro]

Appears the fines are cheaper than storing the boat trailer elsewhere so just keep paying those

Why not keep the boat at the Marina? The fines will add up.

 

[laKavosiey-st lion]

Why not keep the boat at the Marina? The fines will add up.

Yeah the boat is in the water then taken out put on blocks. The trailers not needed until we sell the boat. It’s worth 5-6k, I may sell it. The marina will store my trailer for $250