Homeowners Association sent us a noise complaint letter...

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: oogabooga
A buddy of mine's HOA won't let people change their car oil in the street.. driveway.. even their garages 😵


I suppose as long as where i live the HOA isn't imposing that's fine, but to restrict work in a garage that is quiet? I think that might be going too far.

None of the homes in my community have garages. and apparently we have the same regulation.

I know this because we just reviewed a complaint where a family was doing lots of car work in the community parking spaces (including changing oil) and we asked them to stop.

I asked why this wasn't allowed and was told two reasons (I am on the board, but am from Canada so have no experience with them or their regs - I generally questions everything):

1) When doing car work it is not uncommon to leave the car partially or completely disassembled for a prolonged period of time.

2) Oil changes can get very messy and can damage roads, parking spaces and potentially other vehicles.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: Kroze
if the sidewalk is city's property, why should i clean it.

You shouldn't unless you caused the mess in the first place.

 

[sourceninja]

We bought a house and didn't think to ask if there was a HOA because of the age of the subdivison. After moving in they sent us a letter (asking for previous dues). I sent them a letter back telling them we are new homeowners and are not responsible. A few weeks later I get a letter fining me for the state of the yard (We both work and had not weeded the flower bed that was in the front of the house). I replyed stating I would weed my flower garden when they weeded the main flower gardens and painted the sign at the entrance to the sub division. I have not heard back from them yet. Its been 1 year.

 

[gnumantsc]

Tell them to provide proof that it was your house making the noise. The should show proof before stating that it is your house. So what if you had 15 people? That doesn't mean because your house has 15 people it could be noisy. Maybe you were watching movies together etc.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: j00fek
so basically you have some assn. telling you how to live? i dont think so.

No, you have rules that don't let people let their yards and houses go to hell, and drag your property value down in the process.

You don't necessarily need an actual association with dues. All you need is some restrictive covenants.
Keeps people from having junk cars in the yard, houses in disrepair, crappy looking chain link fences when everyone else has wood or wrought iron, having like 8 dogs, stuff like that.

Now, I don't care for the associations that don't allow people to have pickups in front of the house and picky stuff like that, but some covenants are definitely okay with me.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: sourceninja
We bought a house and didn't think to ask if there was a HOA because of the age of the subdivison. After moving in they sent us a letter (asking for previous dues). I sent them a letter back telling them we are new homeowners and are not responsible. A few weeks later I get a letter fining me for the state of the yard (We both work and had not weeded the flower bed that was in the front of the house). I replyed stating I would weed my flower garden when they weeded the main flower gardens and painted the sign at the entrance to the sub division. I have not heard back from them yet. Its been 1 year.

You should be careful. If fines/dues go unpaid, the HOA can and will turn it over to a lawyer for collection. At that point, the fees will typically triple.

In addition, if they still go unpaid, then the lawyer can and will put a lein on your house.

Having said that, if it has been a year, it is likely none of this has happened since you would have received tons of letters detailing the escalation.

 

[waggy]

HOA's are the devil. but for old people that like everything neat and orderly its great.

there was a story in the paper a few years ago where the HOA tried to take a guys house. claiming he had not paid his dues in 5 years. turns out the guy lived in the area but not part of the HOA (his house was there BEFORE the subdivision was built). the guy spent thousands proving he was not part of the HOA. HOA's have way to much power.

 

[Toasthead]

Originally posted by: Drekce

Originally posted by: joshsquall

Originally posted by: imthebadguy
tell em to "Have a coke and a smile and shut the fvck up!"

Agreed. Homeowners Associations are the scum of the earth. They're for old people and women with entirely too much free time to shove their noses up other people's asses.

Wrong. Homeowner's associations are for people who care how their neighborhood looks and would like to create an environment that fosters increases in the values of the homes. If you don't care about that stuff then move to a different neighborhood.

I got tired of my neighbors who let their yards waste away and never cut the grass.

Bingo. Plus ours has a huge clubhouse and three pools and a gym. Its very cool.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: pulsedrive

Originally posted by: oogabooga
A buddy of mine's HOA won't let people change their car oil in the street.. driveway.. even their garages 😵


I suppose as long as where i live the HOA isn't imposing that's fine, but to restrict work in a garage that is quiet? I think that might be going too far.

The reason they do it is to prevent oil leakage into the ground, etc. Not saying I agree with it, but that is most likely why they do it.

No, I think they have rules against that because changing your oil looks "working class." Preventing oil from leaking into the ground is at best a made up reason. I change my own oil all the time and I've never had oil leak into the ground because I use this amazing new invention called an oil pan and I put cardboard under it. 😉

 

[Shadowknight]

Originally posted by: waggy
HOA's are the devil. but for old people that like everything neat and orderly its great.

there was a story in the paper a few years ago where the HOA tried to take a guys house. claiming he had not paid his dues in 5 years. turns out the guy lived in the area but not part of the HOA (his house was there BEFORE the subdivision was built). the guy spent thousands proving he was not part of the HOA. HOA's have way to much power.

There was also that old couple in the paper awhile ago who let a $100 fine unpaid, and it went up to over $1000 in late fees. The HOA used their power in the agreement to sell the house. They sold it for 1/5 of it's actual value. There was another story I read about (on ATOT?) where someone lived across the road from an HOA, and they still tried telling him how to keep up his house, even though he pointed out that he was not part of their association.

 

[slag]

Originally posted by: sourceninja
We bought a house and didn't think to ask if there was a HOA because of the age of the subdivison. After moving in they sent us a letter (asking for previous dues). I sent them a letter back telling them we are new homeowners and are not responsible. A few weeks later I get a letter fining me for the state of the yard (We both work and had not weeded the flower bed that was in the front of the house). I replyed stating I would weed my flower garden when they weeded the main flower gardens and painted the sign at the entrance to the sub division. I have not heard back from them yet. Its been 1 year.

If you did not sign any paperwork agreeing to the HOA when you bought your home, then you are not subject to the rules and regulations of the HOA..

No contract, No need to listen to them.

 

[sourceninja]

Originally posted by: Garet Jax

Originally posted by: sourceninja
We bought a house and didn't think to ask if there was a HOA because of the age of the subdivison. After moving in they sent us a letter (asking for previous dues). I sent them a letter back telling them we are new homeowners and are not responsible. A few weeks later I get a letter fining me for the state of the yard (We both work and had not weeded the flower bed that was in the front of the house). I replyed stating I would weed my flower garden when they weeded the main flower gardens and painted the sign at the entrance to the sub division. I have not heard back from them yet. Its been 1 year.

You should be careful. If fines/dues go unpaid, the HOA can and will turn it over to a lawyer for collection. At that point, the fees will typically triple.

In addition, if they still go unpaid, then the lawyer can and will put a lein on your house.

Having said that, if it has been a year, it is likely none of this has happened since you would have received tons of letters detailing the escalation.

We they didn't collect dues on my house for the last 7 years, so it doesnt' look like they are really on top of it. If they really want their 20.00 fine, I'll be happy to give it to them. If they want the hundreds of dallors in back dues, they dont have to deal with me.

 

[spacelord]

Originally posted by: xrax
find out who complained and get even.

haha, at my last house I filed a complaint against my neighbors.. the only people that could speak english in that house were their little girl and the dad..a little bit. I asked them nicely a few times to move their POS car that was leaking drops of oil away from the front of my house over to front of their house or driveway. I think they parked it in the street because of the small leak. A few days after I know they got their notice because their car moved I received one about my dog who apparently took a crap a few inches over the propertly line.. they never previously mentioned anything about that. I should have taught my dogs to use their doormat after that...

 

[Squisher]

My HOA is about as loose as it could be. They have little to do with appearances except in common areas. Most of the concerns that have been stated about an HOA, would be handled in my sub by the township police or ordinance inforcement.