While I appreciate the need for an HOA, these things are complete BS. Its basically a group of people telling you what you CANT DO. I just got a $15 HOA fine for having a car parked on the street. We had some family in town for all of 3 nights and 2 of those their car was parked on the street. Is it really that big a damn deal that we have a car parked on the street for 2 nights? Its not some old POS or huge RV thats been there for months. WTF?!


/Rant over




Discuss...

 

They piss me off sometime (like when I got a letter for having a flat tire that I couldn't change because my arm was in a sling), but they do keep the place nice and clean and our H.O. insurance rates can't be beat.

 

My HOA has sent me violations for the same thing. I called them up and it went something like this:

HOA: Well your vehicle was parked on the street over night (it really was)

Me: What time did they come and check?

HOA: Sometime between 9:30 and 10pm.

Me: Would you really consider that overnight? I had some friends over for dinner and drinks and they left somewhere around 11ish.

HOA: So they were not there overnight?

Me: No and I shouldn't pay for it.

HOA: Okay, we can take care of it. Sorry for the notice.

 

Unfortunately for me, I rent the house so I have to go through the property management company that then relays the info to the HOA. It pisses me off enough to deal with it but at the same time the hours of back and forth with this borderline retarded property mgt company probably isnt worth the hassle.

 

Mail them $15 in some foreign currency.

 

We have no HOA and are damn glad about it.

 

HOAs can be good and bad. they protect the area but at the same time can be too overbearing.

1. did you read and understand the HOA agreement before home purchase?

2. was it established after you purchased the home, if yes, did you have any way to learn of the proposed policies and then make votes or objection to the board?

3. Do you have ways to make movements known to the board and have them voted on during the next meeting.

4. How involved are you in the HOA? Can you make motions at meetings? if so, get in there and voice opposition. Get like minded folks in there with you.

Not jumping on your case but there are ways to make change to the HOA and take more ownership of what happens your neighborhood.



::EDIT:: I did not read where you say you are a rentor..... I am not sure what power you have in that instance

 

The way the dollar's depreciating, this is probably a bad idea.

 

Forget power or being involved in the HOA. There was a car parked overnight on the street for 2 nights out of the 6 months I have lived there. It was not there for weeks and its not some huge RV or boat taking up a major portion of the road. Make all the stupid rules you want, this is by no means a big deal and if anything should be nothing more than a warning. Especially considering this is the first time its happened and im a model tennant. Hell im not even home 10 hours out of the day



For the record, I am in the process of finding out exactly what time this infraction happened. With any luck its not too late in the evening, in which case I will be taking Skibum's approach.

 

lame