Tag Archives: HOA Hell

Clothesline Craziness in Florida

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Florida is choked with Homeowners Associations and their regulations can sometimes be draconian, such as no drying of clothing on the backyard clothes line. Here we are facing a worldwide energy crisis, we’re supposedly facing global warming. Yet HOAs threaten to fine, lien and foreclose on homes where somebody tries to save energy by hanging some towels out on the line.

Florida actually passed a law prohibiting HOAs from enforcing such prohibitions. HOAs and property managers should know the law. But they’re more comfortable bullying than in recognizing homeowners’ rights. The story linked below is about a Fort Myers homeowner who did know the law. But she’s now being targeted by the Cross Creek Estates Homeowners Association.

She’s going to lose, of course, because HOAs know that by the time a controversy has been settled the homeowners who try to stand up for their rights have to spend a fortune on legal bills. That’s why I frequently refer to the ‘national HOA scam.’ It’s all about funneling money into the pockets of lawyers, all the while claiming to protect property values.

At least this lady is getting a little emotional support from the news media. If you have friends in Florida just let them know about that state’s Right-To-Dry law. And drop this lady a note thanking her for her courage.

(link to laundry controversy in Fort Myers)

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I blogged about the Cobblestone Community Homeowners Association a few days ago, but the update linked below is worth reading. While I can refute this reporter’s claim that “Most homeowners’ associations work and work well….” Hmmm, this leads me to believe this reporter is a novice. In truth, every Homeowners Association is one vote away from disaster. They don’t protect property values, they don’t ensure personal security, they don’t protect you from embezzlers on the board or in the management company.

The lawyer quoted in the story says he’s frustrated. Of course he is. He knows how dangerous HOAs can be!

(link to Fox5-Atlanta story on Cobblestone HOA)

 

 

HOA Racism

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Deborah Goonan, one of the nation’s most articulate homeowners rights advocates, has posted on her website an important story about racial discrimination by a Homeowners Association. It’s blatant. It’s actionable. And it’s a story that should be read by everyone who respects all races, ethnicities and religions.

by Deborah Goonan (IndependentAmericanCommunities.com)

According to DNAInfo (article linked below), after ending a relationship with her fiance (a white man and a Wall Street executive), Hanying Liu says the cooperative board refused to transfer her fiance’s shares to Liu.

Liu is the only non-white resident of Spice Lofthouse, and alleges cooperative members have made disparaging and discriminatory statements related to her race. She says that the board has not provided a valid reason for denying her full ownership. Liu also alleges that Chinese friends and family have been interrogated by cooperative members, and her daughter, who resides with her, has been mistreated.

NY State Division of Human Rights has investigated Liu’s complaints, and recently filed a discrimination lawsuit against the 15-unit, multi-million dollar cooperative association.

TriBeCa Co-Op Board Discriminates Against Chinese Resident, State Says

(link to article on discrimination lawsuit)

Quote from Ms. Liu, in reference to her cooperative association:

“They are trying to push me and my daughter from our home,” she said.

“They only want you here if you are white — they only tolerated me before because my fiance was white and he worked on Wall Street.

“They are worse than the communists in China — they police me and my friends.”

A Reward For Turning In A Rotten Neighbor

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Just amazing! Just in time for Christmas, counties in Florida are offering rewards for turning in criminals. Just look around your HOA and you can find plenty of board members and property managers who are stealing, bribing, defrauding and embezzling from homeowners. There’s your Christmas money.

Just take this advice from a long-time investigative reporter. Whenever the cops ask you to anonymously call an 800 number, the dirty secret is that you’re not anonymous. The Crimestoppers 800 number is a complete and total scam. Call from a phone booth.

(turn in Florida criminals for a reward)

A Victory For Colorado Homeowners!

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It seems like each state has a hero in the anti-HOA movement. Colorado has Stan Hrincevich. He has worked long and hard to get some kind of state control over the HOA scam. Here’s his latest update on HOA legislation in our state:

The HOA Property Manager (aka Community Association Manager (CAM)) licensing law was fully implemented July 15, 2015. This law provides homeowners a chance to help clean-up abusive industry practices and provide a forum for home owners to rein in violations of State law and HOA governing documents. HB 13-1277 is the licensing law.

The complaint process involves an on-line/web application and is fully explained in our Complaint Guide and should not take more than 15-20 minutes. Since the State HOA Office has no investigative or enforcement authority we suggest you direct all your HOA problems that you want investigated to the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) under the licensing law. The State HOA Office can also be apprised.

Several CAM violations stand out and we ask you and your fellow homeowners to pursue via a complaint:

1) CAM is not licensed (simple lookup on your part)

2) violations in conducting elections, meetings, extremely poor property maintenance, records release (items a,b,and/or c below) and

3) charging HOA Transfer Fees (items “a” and “c” below). All are applicable to CAM complaints. Each one requires a separate complaint.

The explanation of your CAM complaint involves:

1) a description of your problem including how you understand it violates your rights. Include one or more of the below statements extracted from the licensing law to support your complaint.

2) Evidence such as you paid a Transfer Fee documented on your home closing papers, your request for documents has been refused, etc.

Supporting all complaints should be your documentation including an email informing BOTH the HOA Board and CAM of your problem, allow 7-10 days for resolution and if not resolved file a complaint. If you need guidance let us know. Complaints are confidential with DORA.

Let’s all participate to surface problems and hold violators accountable.

Extracts from CAM Licensing Law:

a. KNOWINGLY VIOLATING OR KNOWINGLY DIRECTING OTHERS TO VIOLATE CCIOA (or your HOA governing documents)

b. HAVING DEMONSTRATED UNWORTHINESS OR INCOMPETENCY TO ACT AS A COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MANAGER BY CONDUCTING BUSINESS IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO ENDANGER THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC

c. ANY OTHER CONDUCT, WHETHER OF THE SAME OR A DIFFERENT CHARACTER THAN SPECIFIED IN THIS SUBSECTION (1), THAT CONSTITUTES DISHONEST DEALING.

Stan Hrincevich
Colorado HOA Forum LLC
www.coloradohoaforum.com
email: coloradohoaforum@gmail.com or coloradohoaforum@coloradohoaforum.com