My homeowners association does nothing for me? Is there anything I can do?

Question

My neighbords are constantly parked behind my driveway(and they have 4-6 cars in the complex for a three bedroom condominium), my gutters are moldy and need to be replaced and they do absolutely nothing. I've lived here two years and the only thing they've done, ever, is clean my gutters. Is there anything I can do about this or am I just stuck?

Answer 1

Unfortunately no . I sold a Town House that I was owned and lived in Ga. The H O A was useless . I lost a $15.000 dollar profit because they refused to clean the property and do general maintenance. The dues where low but I and others would have paid more to get it right. This was the dilemma others were in also . Some states like where I live now Ca and others have enacted laws to help people fight their H O A , that is hold them to there contract . I stopped paying dues unfortunately I paid them at the end just to sell the place . They severed me one week before closing then when I paid them they didn't tell the court. I will never buy any property again with a H O A . I meet with a local attorney in town and in the state of Ga you cannot sue for Damages . The Grassadale H O A is horrible . Check with a real estate lawyer and also with other owners . The BY - Laws if any you can disband the H O A . You need to get other owners involved and stop paying your dues . I found out many things about the property on why it was the way it is and I could fill pages and pages of horror stories. Best of luck , let me know how it goes .

Answer 2

Speaking as a former HOA board president, I realized after wasting nearly two years trying to "make a difference" that there is absolutely no fixing an association or its board. The reality of condo/homeowner associations living is the residents are absolutely at the mercy of the CAI (Community Associations Institute) and its array of "service providers". WIth most states not requiring licensing of property managers, and little (if any) law enforcement recourse, we homeowners are sitting ducks for these crooks. In 2005, a CAI survey showed that we collectively spent $41 billion dollars on operational expenses, with another $35 billion on reserves expenses.
My association's dues are nearly 75% higher than when I first moved in here less than five years ago--and our home values have fallen by 30%.
There is no way to fix an HOA--you can either move, sue or stay and pay.
If you can sell it, pack it in and go.

Answer 3

Maybe other owners or occupants are dissatisfied for one reason or other -- talk to others. Become political. Become active. Join the HOA and run for office. Then you will become one of the Deciders.

Can you post a "No Parking" or "Do not block drive" sign? In our community we were told by city police officers that they could not do anything about a car parked in our (private property) building's carport without permission unless a No Parking sign with the code violation was posted on our building in full view. We didn't know the person who was doing that.

The other option is to get out if you are in a position to do so. Find a better housing situation.

Answer 4

It is probably hard for them to get people who run for leadership roles there. That means if you make an effort to get on their board or to lead their board you have an excellent chance to get in. Then you will be the one telling the board what do do - and they can't ignore you.

Answer 5

Find out who ownes the complex and try to go through them

Answer 6

HOA is only intrested in collectig the dues and imposing rules to thier favor.... they do not care for thier members. Check your HOA contract and talk to a real estate attorny for advice.

Answer 7

Go to the next HOA meeting and find out what you are getting. They tend to be cliquish and if you brown-nose enough of them, you will get what you want.

Answer 8

I hate HOA. The only thing that will solve it is move.

Answer 9

HOA are the pitts . If you have the means get out!!!