If I plan on renting out my townhome, do I need to let the hoa know? And if so, why? Thx.?

Question

If I own the place, why do they need to know? I thought hoa laws were only for what occured outside such as paint.

Even if I rent out to family members?

Answer 1

It certainly depends on their particular convenant or by-laws. You should read your agreement. They probably include something on renting.

HOAs can basically make whatever rules they want. For example, your home has to be a certain sq. footage, you have to include a garage, you cannot have more than 4 pets on your property - whatever they think they need and can get members to agree to.

Addition: Are you going to sign a lease with your family members? If not, well, you're just setting yourself up for trouble. If so, your hoa definitely will have something to say about that. Just read your agreement.

Answer 2

Many HOA's by-laws state that there needs to be approval for units rented out. Wouldn't you want to know if your neighbor was about to rent their unit to a pedophile, or any other criminal. I thought so.

Answer 3

You may come up against zoning and code restrictions. Are you in a mixed use or single family only area? If you are in a mixed use area, you're alright for zoning, but with rentals, you always have to answer to the housing inspector for code requirements - they are different than for owner occupied. Go to the local city or township office (a good place to start is by going to the place where you pay your property tax bills), and ask them who you should go to in order to learn the code requirements and/or if you need to register the place as a rental. They will be able to tell you who to talk to.

Answer 4

I would call the Home Owner's Association and ask to make sure. I would definitely make sure if you do rent it out that you have some sort of insurance on it, in case they burn it down or something.