grumpy
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2004
- Messages
- 1,321
I thought it would be interesting to open a dialogue on participants' experience with homeowner associations/condo associations.
DW and I moved into our new home a year and a half ago. This is the first time we have lived in a community with a homeowners association. It has been an eye-opening experience. The situation we face is like the American colonists - taxation without representation. Until the building of the community is complete (two more years?) the developer has full control of the Board of Directors of the association. The board members are all employees of the developer except for one homeowner the board appointed (she is believed to be a paid ally of the developer). This gives the developer complete control of the association budget and all significant decisions about its operation. However, our monthly dues of $210 are used to pay for all costs of the association. The board has used association funds for expenses that by law or county regulation are clearly the responsibility of the developer. The board simply ignores any protests we have made. Once the association transitions to homeowner control we will probably need to sue the developer to recover such funds. In the meantime, the level of mistrust between the homeowners and the association board and developer continues to escalate.
In essence we have a small town goverment that is completely unresponsive to the taxpayers. The board's latest dictatorial act was to disable the residents' discussion forum on the association web site after numerous postings about the improper actions taken by the board. Seems the first amendment doesn't apply here.
Don't get me wrong, I love living here. Our house and neighbors are great and the community amenities are first rate. But the total inability to have any influence on the governance of the community is extremely frustrating.
What has been your experience with HOA/condo associations?
Grumpy
DW and I moved into our new home a year and a half ago. This is the first time we have lived in a community with a homeowners association. It has been an eye-opening experience. The situation we face is like the American colonists - taxation without representation. Until the building of the community is complete (two more years?) the developer has full control of the Board of Directors of the association. The board members are all employees of the developer except for one homeowner the board appointed (she is believed to be a paid ally of the developer). This gives the developer complete control of the association budget and all significant decisions about its operation. However, our monthly dues of $210 are used to pay for all costs of the association. The board has used association funds for expenses that by law or county regulation are clearly the responsibility of the developer. The board simply ignores any protests we have made. Once the association transitions to homeowner control we will probably need to sue the developer to recover such funds. In the meantime, the level of mistrust between the homeowners and the association board and developer continues to escalate.
In essence we have a small town goverment that is completely unresponsive to the taxpayers. The board's latest dictatorial act was to disable the residents' discussion forum on the association web site after numerous postings about the improper actions taken by the board. Seems the first amendment doesn't apply here.
Don't get me wrong, I love living here. Our house and neighbors are great and the community amenities are first rate. But the total inability to have any influence on the governance of the community is extremely frustrating.
What has been your experience with HOA/condo associations?
Grumpy