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Oct 07, 2004 -- Homeowner's associations abusing power
Do you live in a community with a homeowner’s association? These organizations were considered a very good idea at first, but now they are becoming much more controversial. It’s so bad that California recently passed a law, saying that an association can take away your home if you don’t pay your dues or have a minor dispute. Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the law, thank goodness. But there is definitely a backlash toward homeowner’s associations. People magazine recently wrote about these associations, and reported that about 55 million of us now live in these communities. Some who like the uniformity and control that goes along with these organizations. Others have no idea what they’re getting themselves into and what punishments go along if they don’t comply. The scary thing is that these groups have unlimited power in most cases. There are no checks and balances. That’s why Clark thinks there should be a judicial remedy in the form of a state-sanctioned homeowner association court. Homeowner disputes could be heard there. And if an association imposes a fine on you, you can argue your case. Clark understands the need for these associations, but there is an abuse of power that needs to be addressed.
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What others are saying
Homeowner in McDonough, GA
I have had to leave my home for work out of state because of the down economy. Therefore, I contacted my Homeowner's association to give them all means of communicating with me if there is a problem with my property. I contracted with a lawn company to cut my grass twice a month. As a result, the HOA, which is not made up of the property owners because the builder has not completed all phases of the subdivision has put a private company in charge of our property. Therefore, I have received covenant violations for my garbage can being in the street, my lawn being 6 inches too high, mailbox being damaged by neighbors, and list goes on. This is unfair treatment to acquire the American Dream of being a homeowner. I believe as a American, we should get together and get legislation passed to reform this process. Anyone out there interested, please contact me at daviddex1@hotmail.com. It is time for a change.
HOA incredible abuse and extortion
Others, say nothing. Some of them already diea because of age ( average age of people who lives in my building 14569 Benefit Street, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403) is 80 years old and above. Some already foreclosed 6 units. Some was frightened and do not say anything.
HOA incredible abuse and extortion
Board of Management along with HOA,their contractor and their lawyers imposed $60000.00 on me + fees. They are going to foreclose my unit on 10/13/2009 regardless that I have less than $4.500 on my mortgage. It is enourmouus economical (financial) crime. I live in Sherman Oaks, CA (zip 91403). Board of Management have a deal with LA Mirabelle HOA, their laywers and their contractor. They collected $2,000000.00 from 41 units. The money already spent and nothing is done. They collect also every month Maintenace fee $400.00 and there is no money on operational account or any account whatsoever. I am the one who resist against this unlawful, without any foundation collection of money ($2,000000.00) and because of this they impose on me additional $9000.00 otherwise I will be foreclosed on 10/13/2009.
Please HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can not fight with HOA and Board of Management when on their side all money (more than $2,000000.00), several cunning lawyers, insurance and etc...
I begged them about Payment Plan and they denied me, I tried to resolve it via mediation and they also denied me. I attempted to resolve it via ADR and they play game with me and my lawyer and waited when 90 days limit of ADR will expire and etc...
I already spent $60000.00 (I already paid to HOA this year towards their $2,000000.00 project) + HOA maintenance every month $400.00, + laywers fees ($5000.00), + "delinquent assessment" fee that Board of Management and HOA imposed on me.
Now, Board of Management and HOA impose on me also additional $1500.00 for fixing common area issue, which is total HOA responsibility.
Their so called "Rehabilitation Project" involves enourmous overcharge on every item, on top of that Board of Management and HOA imposed absolutely unnecessary jobs to collect more money. It was no bids on any contract jobs whatsoever at any stage.
People who do not pay them money they threaten and foreclose.
I can continue on and on....
Silver Leag
Just moved into Silver Leaf in Cumming. Have been here 6 weeks and got a letter saying my weeds are causing the property value to decline and I'll be fined if I don't correct the problem. The grass is new (sod) and it's not a good idea to put weed killer on new sod - you think the kremlin here would give me a few months to correct the issue - this is ridiculous.
home owners asso.
Their needs to be some entity that these h.o.a.'s have to answer to. I live in ivy falls also but it feels more like north korea
Home owners association
Clark: I live in a community that says it's manditory for all residents to have garbage service. I have a rental home there that has been vacent for 3 months and they say I must still pay even though no garbage has been picked up for the three months.
ivy falls homeowner association
Someone needs to FULLY INVESTIGATE this "supposed" association and the underhanded way it is being run!!!!!!!
Abuse of Power
I live in the Ivy Falls Homeowners Assn in Columbia County Georgia. (Phase I)
Dues are collected and the association pays to mow other homeowners property . They maintain and mow the front entrance to our subdivision that is now owned by an individual that does not live here. Our front entrance was originally part of the subdivision and was sold.
We also got fishing permits to fish in stormwater retention pond. The pond was sold at a public auction to a private homeowner.
Think twice!!
The board of directors has been something else. I do not ever remember having a quorum for a legal meeting. Sometimes they make up their own rules.
Never ever will I live in a Homeowner's Association again.
The county wants no resposibility, nor does any of the state agencies for problems. The agencies will say get a lawyer but it is hard to do so when the association has the money.
There has never been an audit. As homeowners we beg and plead and it never gets done.
Now the association wants to hire a management company, Ya'll should see the houses for sale.
HOMEOWNERS ASSOC. (MANAGEMENT COMPANY)
WE LIVE IN JONESBORO,GA (CLAYTON CO.) WE LIVE IN A SUBDIVISION THAT HAS A HOMEOWNERS ASSOC. THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF MANAGEMENT COMPANIES TO MANAGE WHATEVER THEY NEED THEM FOR. (I HAVENT A CLUE)BUT THIS RECENT COMPANY KEEP SENDING TO THEIR ATTORNEYS THAT WE OWE BACK DUES WHICH ISNT THE CASE, THE LAST TIME I CALLED THEM ON THIS LETTER WE RECEIVED FROM THE ATTORNEY, THEY TOLD US TO DISREGARD THE LETTER BECAUSE THEY MADE A MISTAKE, I TOLD THEM THEY NEEDED TO SEND ME A LETTER TO SHOW THIS WAS A MISTAKE, I NEVER RECEIVED IT. THEN 3 MONTHS LATER, THEY SEND ANOTHER LETTER FROM THE ATTRONEY SHOWING ANOTHER DIFFERENT AMOUNT, I CALLED THEM ON THIS AND AGAIN, THE OWNER OF THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY SAID SHE WOULD CHECK WITH THE ATTORNEY AND SEE IF IT WAS A MISTAKE. IM THINKING THAT WHY SHOULD SHE CHECK WITH THE ATTORNEY, THE ATTORNEY ONLY KNOW WHAT THEY TURN IN TO THEM. A FEW DAYS LATER I GET THE STATEMENT SAING I OWN 225.00 WHEN WE ONLY OWE 56.25. I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO. COULD YOU PLEASE GIVE ME SOME ADVICE. THANKS
fined for children making noise
We have been fined for children making noise & also police being called to our house because our neighbor,the president of the association gets very disturbed by our children playing?????
Homeowners Assn.
Our grandchildren pitched a VERY nice tent in our yard for 1.5 days and 20 people in our neighborhood complained to the assn. to have it taken down.
HOA's out of Control
This is why I sold mine in Emeryville and moved out of state. They are little feifdoms and I mean like BARNEY !!! LOL !!!
Help us please
Some of us were mislead when we bought our homes and now there is no help for us. Their has to be a goverment entity that can save us, our homes are not our homes any more.
HOA Foreclosures
HOA foreclosures have gone too far. In our Calif. HOA we are forced to pay for TW Cable...whether we want it our not. To refuse could cause foreclosure!!!
